ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
The UAE may soon witness WNBA action on its courts in Abu Dhabi, following the success of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games over the past two seasons, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told Aletihad on Friday.
Speaking during a media roundtable on the sidelines of the much-anticipated Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics preseason showdown in Abu Dhabi, with Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum by his side, Silver confirmed that while no specific plans have been finalised, the interest in bringing a WNBA game to the UAE is strong. He added that discussions are actively ongoing to make this a reality, as the league looks to expand its reach globally.
"There’s no question that there's interest in bringing a WNBA game [to the UAE]," Silver said in response to Aletihad’s question, adding that the WNBA’s growth, particularly in recent years, has been nothing short of remarkable.
Silver pointed to the growing popularity of women’s sports globally, with young WNBA stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese helping to boost the league’s visibility. According to Timeline data, the attendance for WNBA games this year has witnessed a 50% increase compared to last year’s season.
“I think it's in part, of course, [because of] this rookie class of tremendous players, led by Caitlin Clark. But in addition, it's a larger movement that we're seeing in women's sports. We certainly saw it in Paris, at the Olympics. We're seeing it in football, tennis, volleyball, and many other sports. And it’s long overdue,” he added.
Ultimately, the specifics of this potential move depend on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who would play a key role in determining the precise plans for expanding the global reach of the women’s league, including bringing WNBA games to Abu Dhabi.
“I’ll leave that to my counterpart Commissioner Engelbert, in terms of the precise plans, but it’s certainly something we would love to see happen,” Silver said.
The NBA has already established a strong foothold in promoting women's basketball in the region through programmes like "Her Time to Play." On Friday, over 120 girls aged 11 to 14 took part in a special event in Abu Dhabi, led by icons such as former WNBA champion and MVP Sylvia Fowles, Boston Celtics executive and former player Allison Feaster, and basketball influencer Jamad Finn.
The girls had the chance to work on their basketball skills, engage in competitive play, and participate in a leadership panel.