WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of the year, closing a seven-plus-year tenure that saw the league reach new heights of popularity and financial success, but also navigate periods of internal turmoil and public controversy. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the decision on Friday, praising Engelbert's leadership.

"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."

Engelbert, who turns 62 in November, told The Associated Press that she had been thinking about retiring for months. She said she has mixed emotions about leaving but believes the timing is right.

"When I first came to the league I intended to do this for 3 1/2 years," she said 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."

Engelbert will retire effective December 31, 2026, according to an official announcement. She is the second-longest tenured WNBA president or commissioner, and she leaves after helping negotiate a collective bargaining agreement this past spring that secured the league's first million-dollar player salaries.

A Legacy of Growth and Change

Engelbert took over the WNBA in 2019 after serving as CEO of Deloitte. During her tenure, the league expanded from 12 teams to 15, with plans to reach 18 by 2030. Franchise valuations soared, from an average of $10 million in 2019 to approximately $460 million in 2026. The league also signed the biggest media deal in women's sports history and saw record television ratings and strong attendance.

Engelbert said she is most proud of getting charter travel for players, keeping the league operational during the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic media rights deal, and the exponential increase in franchise values. She also noted the growth of the league's staff from 12 to nearly 100 and the negotiation of two collective bargaining agreements that improved player pay and benefits.

"It's a good time to hand it off to the next leader to take the 'W' into a better phase," Engelbert said. "I'm proud of the team we built and everything we accomplished. A leader knows when it's time to drop the mic and move on after building a powerhouse team in the league office."

Turbulence and Player Tensions

Despite the growth, Engelbert's final years were not without friction. Players have voiced concerns about the league's handling of social media vitriol directed at them, with some feeling the league has not done enough to ensure their safety. Fans booed Engelbert at the Commissioner's Cup finals and WNBA All-Star Weekends, and in September 2024 she faced criticism for failing to condemn racist and vitriolic behavior surrounding the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry. She later acknowledged she "missed the mark" in her initial response.

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, vice president of the WNBA players' union executive committee, said there is respect for Engelbert among players but not much of a relationship. Napheesa Collier, at her exit interview in September 2025, offered some of the most public criticism an athlete has voiced about a commissioner, with her peers backing her up.

The league has also been at the center of discussions about transgender athletes. Engelbert said there should be no confusion on the matter: "We have no current eligibility issues in the WNBA."

Reaction and Succession

Engelbert said she has been working on a succession plan over the last few years, with both internal and external candidates on the league's radar. The selection process is a structured corporate hiring effort managed by the league's senior stakeholders, not a public election. The ultimate authority to hire the next commissioner rests with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the WNBA Board of Governors, who vet candidates and secure a majority vote. The league routinely partners with top-tier executive search firms to identify potential leaders from sports, entertainment, and business sectors.

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom responded to the announcement with a video on his X page, offering himself as a candidate and criticizing the league's eligibility rules. "While the reported retirement of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is a win for women and an admission that the league's rules must change, her retirement does not solve the systemic issues which must be addressed in order to protect women's sports," he said.

Freedom, who has a history of declaring himself for positions, claimed he would "step in as commissioner and lead this league back to greatness and restore fairness for all women." He also referenced his earlier declaration for the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming he identifies as a woman, and his support for Sophie Cunningham, whose views on transgender athletes sparked controversy. However, as a corporate hiring process run by the league's owners, the likelihood of Freedom becoming the next commissioner is effectively zero.

Personal Reflections

Engelbert said she has been thinking about retiring for months and that the decision was solely her own. She admitted that the online hate she receives has affected her family, and her mother has encouraged her to step down, saying "it would be good if you were retired to spend more time with me." Engelbert said her retirement will make her mother happy.

Engelbert leaves the WNBA in a far stronger position than when she arrived, with a new collective bargaining agreement, expanded reach, and record valuations. As the league prepares for its next chapter, the search for her successor will be closely watched by players, fans, and stakeholders alike.