Cathy Engelbert is retiring from the WNBA.
Following Team USA’s victory over China to begin the FIBA World Cup tournament, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that she will be retiring from her position at the end of 2026.
“After more than seven years at the WNBA and more than 40 total years in business, I have made the decision to retire as WNBA Commissioner,” Engelbert said in a statement.
“In 2019, I had the privilege of being appointed the league’s first commissioner and to lead a league with enormous potential yet untapped awareness and significant undervaluation. Over the years, it has been amazing to watch WNBA players thrive and lead the massive cultural surge around women’s sports.”
Engelbert later sent a letter to the players in the league with the news:
Although she’s faced criticism from various stakeholders over the years, Engelbert has presided over a league that is fully entrenched in mainstream sports discussions. So why leave now?
“When I first came to the league I intended to do this for 3 1/2 years,” Engelbert told reporters in a phone interview. “The 7 1/2 years exceeded that time. This is a really good time given the financial transformation journey we’ve been on. Getting the collective bargaining agreement done, getting a long-term media rights deal done, getting expansion done.”
With that business handled and more expansion teams entering the league in the coming years, the search for her replacement begins now. Engelbert will be involved in the process of finding her replacement, but the decision will ultimately fall to NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.
Engelbert’s tenure is complicated to reflect on. When she joined the WNBA, the league was trying to find itself and overcome various hurdlesthat were placed in front of it. While the league’s business grew, Engelbert’s lack of relationships with players stood out and shaped perceptions of her. She has had to navigate various firestorms surrounding the league and has often had to publicly reflect on her missteps. It was no secret that a significant number of players and owners were not fans of her leadership style.
Now as she enters retirement, she leaves the league in a better, healthier position than when she found it.
Over the next few months, we will see which candidates emerge to be the new Commissioner of the WNBA. They will have a lot to work with and how they manage the league’s relationship with the NBA will be essential. This is the first step in a long journey, and we’ll see how things play out from here.
