NBA star Stephen Curry expressed his hopes that the WNBA's forthcoming leadership will prioritize basketball in the league's narratives. Speaking at the Curry Cup, his annual youth golf tournament at Bethpage Black Golf Course, Curry discussed how current discussions around the WNBA have been overshadowed by political and cultural issues, which he described as "unfortunate."
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His comments come as WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced her retirement effective at the end of 2026. Engelbert's tenure has seen significant economic growth and a new collective bargaining agreement for the league, although she faced criticism regarding her response to player concerns. "Let's make it about basketball," Curry emphasized, suggesting that the new leadership's main objective should be to enhance the focus on basketball.
Curry praised the WNBA and its players, noting that the league is experiencing record attendance and television ratings. He advocated for celebrating the accomplishments of the players and concentrating on the sport itself.
A long-time supporter of women's sports, Curry is an investor in the women's 3-on-3 basketball league Unrivaled. He also mentioned his efforts to recruit female athletes for his Curry Brand, expressing frustration with Under Armour for not being more proactive in approaching basketball star Caitlin Clark. "I’m going to go after everybody ... we’ve had meetings with Caitlin, with Paige [Bueckers]," he stated about his brand's future directions.
Curry ended his 13-year partnership with Under Armour in November and is now exploring other options as a "sneaker free agent," recently signing a multiyear deal with Chinese brand Li-Ning.