Cathy Engelbert Reveals Findings of WNBA's Investigation into Aces Salary Cap Circumvention Claims

The WNBA has for now closed a years-long investigation into whether the Las Vegas Aces violated league salary cap rules.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters Saturday there was "insufficient evidence" of salary cap circumvention after a review from outside council.

"We've been conducting an independent investigation by outside counsel," Engelbert said during her All-Star press conference. "So, we have wrapped that up for now. WNBA has determined that there is insufficient evidence at this time to establish the salary cap circumvention violation, and no discipline will be recommended or imposed.

"Of course, if new or additional evidence comes to light, we'll continue to investigate. But the integrity of our game is No. 1."

ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported in February 2023 the WNBA was investigating allegations the Aces had made "under-the-table payments to players."

According to IX Sports' Howard Megdal, the Aces were alleged to have provided players with "an offer for a specific amount of money from a particular, pre-selected company" in exchange for a "negligible" amount of work.

The league's collective bargaining agreement at the time prohibited teams from entering into agreements with third parties for non-basketball activities or above "fair market value," per Megdal.

The WNBA later opened a separate review after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a third-party tourism organization, announced it would give each Aces player a $100,000 bonus for the 2024 season.

The LVCVA repeated the promotion in 2025 after the organization said they had not received an update on the investigation from the WNBA, per Callie Fin of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The new CBA ratified ahead of the 2026 season increased fines for any actions the WNBA defines as cap circumvention, a change Engelbert described Saturday as "prospective."

The Aces went into the 2026 season as defending champions after winning their third WNBA title in four years last October. The franchise currently ranks third in the Western Conference after an 18-8 start to the campaign.