WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring at the end the year, bringing to a close her seven-plus years at the helm of the league and a stewardship that has been transformative and at times tumultuous.
Engelbert is the second-longest tenured WNBA president or commissioner, and she helped negotiate a lucrative collective bargaining agreement this past spring that resulted in the league’s first set of million-dollar player salaries.
“Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Friday when announcing Engelbert’s decision. “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 has been thinking about retiring for months.
“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 insists that the decision to leave was solely her own and that she did not feel any pressure to step down from NBA or WNBA stakeholders.
Engelbert: Several unidentified successors on league’s radar
The commissioner said she has been working on a succession plan over the last few years. While she didn’t give any specifics on who might be considered for the position, Engelbert did say there are both internal and external potential candidates on the league’s radar.
“It’s a good time to hand it off to the next leader to take the ‘W’ into a better phase,” she 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.”
Engelbert said she has mixed emotions about leaving.
“I love women’s basketball and am not going anywhere yet. We’ll run a real succession process in the remaining four months. If we don’t find someone I’ll stay on,” she said. “I had no transition. I walked in the door and I was by myself as no one transitioned me into this role.
“Hopefully I can help this next leader transition in especially considering the elevation of this league.”
The WNBA has grown at an exponential rate during Engelbert’s tenure as commissioner, with record television ratings, strong attendance, a new long-term media rights deal and expansion to 18 teams by the end of the decade.
“I was brought in as a business leader to transform the business,” she said. “I look at revenue and merchandise, viewership and attendance,” she said, noting how they’ve all improved. “A great leader senses when it’s time for someone else to come in. When I came in, this league was facing questions about our long-term viability and sustainability.”
Turmoil and tension part of Engelbert’s tenure
Engelbert said the growth of the league has “blown away her expectations” since she stepped into her role after leaving her previous position as president of Deloitte in 2019.
Besides the new CBA, the list of things she is most proud of includes getting charter travel for players, keeping the league going during the coronavirus pandemic, the historic media rights deal and exponential increase in the value of of WNBA franchises. In 2019, the average value of a WNBA franchise was $10 million; in 2026, it is about $460 million.
Along with the financial gains, however, turmoil and tension have accompanied the WNBA’s growth.
Players say they have seen more social media vitriol directed toward them over the last few years and some don’t feel the league has done enough to ensure their safety. The league also has been at the center of discussions about transgender athletes playing in the league.
Engelbert has repeatedly said the online attacks of players are unacceptable and she backs league initiatives to protect players. She also said there should be no confusion on the transgender question.
“We have no current eligibility issues in the WNBA,” Engelbert said, adding that “if we did, we would have a thoughtful policy discussion with the (players’ association) and the players.”
While there was a strained partnership between the commissioner and players during the recent CBA negotiations, Engelbert insists she has a good relationship with them.
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, vice president of the WNBA players’ union executive committee said Friday that she was happy for Engelbert.
“What she’s done for the league is incredible,” Stewart said. “Obviously, the CBA negotiation was a tough one, but the way that both sides continue to have a huge win is really important. So really happy for her and hope that she continues to remember that and reflect on that.”
Stewart had said before the All-Star Game in July that there was a respect for Engelbert among the players but not much of a relationship.
Engelbert sent a letter to all the players Friday morning in which she wrote that she had “enormous pride in what we’ve accomplished together, profound gratitude for the opportunity to lead alongside of you, and complete confidence that the future of the WNBA is brighter than ever.”
What’s next in Engelbert’s future?
Engelbert said she is ready to do what most retirees plan: spend more time with family.
She also admitted that the online hate she receives has affected her family as well, though she did not share details of the impact.
“There have been some hard parts of that on my family with the vitriol and hate I get online,” Engelbert said.
Her retirement will make her mother happy.
“My mom is turning 90 this year, and she said that ‘it would be good if you were retired to spend more time with me,’” Engelbert said, laughing. “I have two children, one I barely see.
“I’m one of eight kids (and I) have five brothers. They always say can you retire so you can spend more time with us.”
Come Jan. 1, her family will get its wish.
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