WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert used Monday night’s draft to unveil the league’s next big ambition: an officially sanctioned game outside North America in 2027. The move follows the 2026 expansion to Toronto, the WNBA’s first franchise beyond the United States. Engelbert also celebrated the free‑agency wave that produced three million‑dollar contracts within days, a milestone for player wealth.

Board approval hangs over the Connecticut Sun sale to Tilman Fertitta, owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, and Engelbert hinted relocation talks will continue. Meanwhile, the league’s collective bargaining agreement, a 400‑ to 500‑page document, promises higher salaries, housing subsidies, 401(k) contributions and payouts for retired players. An officiating task force, bolstered by input from players and coaches, will tighten physicality standards this season.

With training camps opening Sunday, the regular season is set to tip off on May 8. Despite a compressed offseason—80 % of the roster was free agents—teams have already signed many key pieces. Engelbert summed up the league’s direction, praising its trajectory and growth, and left no doubt that the WNBA will deliver a more physical, globally minded product this year.