WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire at end of 2026

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire at end of 2026

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of the year, ending a tenure of more than seven years that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described as the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history. The announcement came Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Engelbert, who turns 62 in November, is the second-longest tenured president or commissioner in WNBA history. She entered the role in 2019 after serving as president of Deloitte, bringing a total of more than 40 years of business experience to the position. She was the first person to hold the title of commissioner for the league.

The transition comes after a period of dramatic financial escalation. According to Engelbert, the average value of a WNBA franchise was $10 million in 2019; by 2026, that figure has risen to about $460 million. Other benchmarks of growth during her leadership include record attendance, record television ratings, a new long-term media rights deal, and a trajectory toward expanding to 18 teams by the end of the decade.

Engelbert also oversaw two collective bargaining agreements, including one negotiated this past spring that resulted in the league's first set of million-dollar player salaries. Other achievements she cited include the implementation of charter travel for players and maintaining league operations during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the growth was not without friction. The commissioner's tenure was described as polarizing and tumultuous at times. Players have reported increased social media vitriol and expressed concerns that the league has not done enough to ensure their safety. Engelbert has stated that online attacks against players are unacceptable and has backed initiatives to protect them.

The league has also faced scrutiny regarding transgender athletes. Engelbert stated there are currently no eligibility issues in the WNBA, but noted that any future issues would involve a thoughtful policy discussion with players and the players' association.

Relationships with player leadership varied. WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson admitted that she and Engelbert didn't always agree and that their relationship was tumultuous at times, though both shared a vision for the league's potential. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, vice president of the WNBA players' union executive committee, noted that while the recent CBA negotiation was tough, she was happy for Engelbert. Stewart had previously mentioned in July that players felt respect for Engelbert but lacked a close relationship with her.

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, who will also retire at the end of the season, said she has great respect for the commitment Cathy brought to the role and credited her with guiding the league through extraordinary change.

Engelbert told The Associated Press she had been considering retirement for months, noting that her original intention was to stay for 3 1/2 years. She insisted the decision to step down was hers alone and not the result of pressure from WNBA or NBA stakeholders.

Personal factors influenced the timing. Engelbert cited a desire to spend more time with her family, including her two children and five brothers. She mentioned that her mother, who turns 90 this year, suggested it would be good for her to retire. Engelbert also admitted that the online hate she personally receives has affected her family.

Looking forward, Engelbert said she has been working on a succession plan for several years. She indicated there are potential candidates on the league's radar from both internal and external sources. A formal succession process will take place over the next four months. Engelbert stated she will remain in the role if a replacement is not found by the end of the year to ensure the next leader has a transition, a luxury she said she did not have when she first started.