Entertainment

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to step down at the end of 2026

Engelbert's seven-year tenure delivered historic commercial growth and league expansion alongside notable labor and player tensions.

Updated Sep 4, 2026 · 17:24 UTC5 reports

The short version

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced she will retire at the end of 2026 after leading the league for more than seven years.
Her tenure saw substantial business expansion, including multi-billion-dollar media deals, average team valuations rising to $460 million, and plans to grow the league to 18 teams by 2030.
Engelbert's leadership faced periodic criticism from players regarding player safety, compensation negotiations, and the handling of online harassment.
The league has not yet named a replacement and plans to run a succession process over the remaining months of the year.

Engelbert took charge as the WNBA's first commissioner in 2019 and will officially retire at the end of 2026.[CNBC · NBC News · CBS News]
Average WNBA team valuations increased from $10 million in 2019 to approximately $460 million in 2026 under her leadership.[CNBC · The Guardian · CBS News]
The league finalized expansion plans to grow from 12 to 18 franchises by 2030, alongside securing media rights agreements valued in excess of $3 billion.[CNBC · NBC News]
Engelbert helped negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that introduced million-dollar player salaries and full charter travel.[NBC News · The Guardian · CBS News]
Prominent players, including union vice president Napheesa Collier, publicly criticized Engelbert's leadership regarding league accountability, officiating, and player protections.[CNBC · NBC News · CBS News]

A successor has not yet been selected, though Engelbert stated both internal and external candidates are being considered during the four-month transition window.[CNBC · The Guardian · Fox News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.