WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has made a major decision about her future in the job.
Engelbert has informed the WNBA that she intends to retire at the end of the season, the league announced in a statement. She had been the league’s commissioner since 2019.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to Retire at the End of 2026 pic.twitter.com/Ul7qV4dm33
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 4, 2026
Engelbert became the WNBA’s first commissioner in 2019. The league has grown by leaps and bounds since she took over, but that growth has come with additional scrutiny. She was criticized for a perceived lack of compensation for players, and was also scrutinized for the league’s handing of incidents surrounding Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
More recently, Engelbert has been in the news over controversy regarding the WNBA and trans athletes. As recently as last month, at least one prominent player was still pushing for her removal.
It is not known who might be in the running to replace Engelbert as commissioner. However, the league will presumably want a figure who is capable of dealing with the increased attention and subsequent scrutiny that the league has attracted in recent years.
