Cathy Engelbert to retire as WNBA commissioner at year-end

A three-year succession plan is already underway.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 41 min read

What happened: Engelbert said the decision had been in the works for several years. She said she had long planned to retire at 62.

Why it matters: The departure will close the tenure of the WNBA's first commissioner, a title created when she took over in 2019. Her successor will inherit the league's new collective bargaining agreement, which introduced its first million-dollar player salaries.

By the numbers: Engelbert's expected 7½-year tenure is more than twice her original 3½-year plan. The league expanded from 12 teams to 15, while its staff grew from 12 to nearly 100.

What to watch: WNBA owners and NBA commissioner Adam Silver will make the final choice from internal and external candidates Engelbert submitted.

Sources

The IX Sports 2026-09-04T17:18:16.812144+00:00

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