Engelbert acknowledges communication gaps as WNBA charts historic growth
Cathy Engelbert’s annual press conference in Chicago highlighted record viewership and a new replay centre, but also underscored ongoing tensions regarding player relations and governance transparency.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has publicly acknowledged the need to improve communication between league leadership and players, admitting that both she and the organisation must do better. This admission follows tensions during last year’s collective bargaining negotiations and ongoing criticism from star players regarding their relationship with management. During her annual press conference in Chicago, Engelbert highlighted the league’s historic growth, citing record viewership figures of over 73 million unique viewers through 117 broadcasts.
Engelbert stated she is “blessed” to lead the league during its “hyper growth” but did not commit to staying as commissioner for the next season. When asked about her future tenure, she avoided direct answers, stating it is “not on me to decide” and focusing instead on the league’s achievements. She emphasised that while she tries to reach out to players regarding honours or injuries, the league “has to be better” at maintaining consistent dialogue with its biggest stakeholders.
The league has reached a “really good place” with players following the resolution of collective bargaining negotiations, which avoided a delay to the 2026 season. Engelbert acknowledged the “contentious” nature of the labour talks but insisted that the relationship has stabilised. However, perspectives among players remain divided, with some noting marginal improvements while others, including four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, have expressed a lack of deeper connection with the commissioner.
Engelbert announced the launch of a new replay centre next season, requiring the installation of advanced cameras across all venues. This structural update comes at a time when the league’s leadership is facing heightened scrutiny, particularly following a recent meeting between Engelbert and the WNBPA’s executive committee and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Players aired grievances regarding officiating standards, racism, and security during a 90-minute virtual call.
Addressing player safety concerns, Engelbert noted increased security measures and the conclusion of an investigation into the Las Vegas Aces for potential salary cap circumvention. The independent probe, launched in May 2024, was determined to have insufficient evidence to prove rule violations. Despite the administrative challenges, Engelbert pointed to the league’s most watched season in history, with 29 games averaging over 1 million viewers, as evidence of the organisation’s expanding institutional footprint.
