WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire at end of calendar year, ending controversial tenure

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring at the end of the calendar year. 

Engelbert was the first-ever WNBA commissioner in league history, serving in the role for seven years. The news was announced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. 

"Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history," Silver said in the WNBA’s statement.  "We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball."

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The timing of her retirement comes after a year full of controversy in the WNBA. Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham’s comments about trans athletes in women’s sports and the treatment of Caitlin Clark have been the dominating storylines throughout this season. 

"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."

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Under Engelbert's tenure, the league expanded from 12 to 18 teams while also overseeing the WNBA's media rights and collective bargaining agreement. While she has been highly criticized for not marketing the WNBA's superstars enough, namely Clark, the league has seen tremendous growth under Engelbert. 

In the WNBA's statement, the league said Engelbert helped oversee "increases in viewership and historic highs have been reached in digital engagement, game attendance, League Pass subscribers, merchandise sales, corporate partnership revenues and franchise valuations."

The WNBA schedule has drastically changed under Engelbert. In 2021, she introduced the WNBA's in-season Commissioner's Cup tournament. In 2025, she expanded the regular season to 44 games and announced that the WNBA would play a record-high 50 games in 2027.

The 61-year-old said she is retiring with gratitude and optimism for the WNBA's future. 

"I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined.  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," Engelbert said. 

It is not yet known who will replace her.