WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced her retirement at the end of the year, concluding her impactful seven-plus years leading the league through a period of significant growth and change. Engelbert, the second-longest serving WNBA president or commissioner, played a pivotal role in negotiating a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement earlier this year, which led to the introduction of million-dollar player salaries.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Engelbert for her leadership and dedication to advancing women’s basketball, acknowledging her role in steering the league through unprecedented growth. Engelbert, who will turn 62 in November, expressed that she had been contemplating retirement for some time, highlighting the completion of key initiatives such as the collective bargaining agreement, long-term media rights deal, and expansion efforts.
Emphasizing that her decision to retire was personal and not influenced by external pressures, Engelbert revealed that she has been working on a succession plan for the past few years. While not disclosing specific candidates, she mentioned that there are internal and external individuals being considered for the commissioner position in the future.
Reflecting on her tenure, Engelbert noted the remarkable progress made by the WNBA under her leadership, including enhanced television ratings, increased attendance, a new media rights agreement, and expansion to 18 teams by the end of the decade. Despite the league’s growth, Engelbert acknowledged challenges such as social media backlash against players and ongoing discussions about transgender athletes’ participation.
Looking ahead, Engelbert expressed her intention to focus on spending more time with her family post-retirement, highlighting the impact of online negativity on her personal life. She shared her excitement about fulfilling her family’s wish for her to retire and dedicate more time to her loved ones, starting from January 1.