Sept. 4 (UPI) — WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire after the 2026 season, the league announced Friday.
“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 news release.
“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.”
The league, which had a dozen teams in Engelbert’s first year and now has 15, experienced substantial growth — from financial and interest standpoints — during her tenure. She also helped usher the WNBA through the COVID-19 pandemic.
But her leadership was criticized recently by several prominent players, including Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Issues raised from the players center on officiating, harassment toward players and additional revenue.
Collier called the WNBA’s leadership “the worst in the world” during a news conference last September. She cited a “lack of accountability” from the league office.
“We have the best players in the world,” Collier told reporters. “We have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world. If I didn’t know exactly what the job entailed, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way, but unfortunately for them, I do.
“We serve a league that has shown they think championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable and that’s fine. It’s professional sports, but I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level.”
Clark later said that Collier “a lot of very made valid points.” She was among several players to voice support for the Collier, a perennial MVP candidate and vice president of the players’ union.
“I think what people need to understand, we need great leadership at this time across all levels,” Clark said. “This is straight-up the most important moment in this league’s history. This league’s been around for 25-plus years and this is a moment we have to capitalize on.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Friday that the league is “grateful” for Engelbert’s tenure.
“Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history,” Silver said. “We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball.”
The WNBA credited Engelbert for her efforts during the pandemic-impacted 2020 season, the introduction of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, an expanded regular season and leading the largest investment round in women’s sports history — a 2022 $75 million capital raise to fund growth initiatives.
The league also credited her for introducing the airline charter program — which made WNBA players the first women’s professional athletes in a United States-based league to fly privately to all games.
The WNBA will have 18 teams by 2030, and it plans to expand the regular season to 50 games from 44 in 2027.
“I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined,” Engelbert said. “I am grateful to the WNBA and NBA team owners and staff, players, investors, fans and the powerhouse league office staff, who believed in what this league could become.
“I retire with immense gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future of the WNBA, with the best yet to come.”
The WNBA season, which is paused to allow players to compete in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, will resume Sept. 17. Playoff matchups will start Sept. 27, with the WNBA Finals to begin Oct. 17.
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