WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire amid player criticism
Engelbert will leave the role on 31 December 2026 after more than seven years leading the WNBA.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced she will retire on 31 December 2026, ending more than seven years in charge of the league.
Engelbert became commissioner in 2019 after more than 40 years in business. In a private message to players, she described her tenure as a period of significant transformation and expressed gratitude for their contribution to the league.
She credited players with driving the WNBA’s growth and referred to a new collective bargaining agreement, a major media-rights deal, expansion, investment and increased fan engagement. Those achievements were presented in Engelbert’s message and have not been independently substantiated in the supplied material.
The announcement comes amid reported criticism from players including Napheesa Collier and Sophie Cunningham. Yahoo Sports reported tensions involving player safety, physical play and concerns about leadership responsiveness, although the supplied material does not provide independent detail about those criticisms or their timing.
Engelbert said players’ advocacy and willingness to challenge the league had made it stronger. She also said she remained confident in the WNBA’s future.
