WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026, bringing an end to more than seven years leading the league through a period of unprecedented growth and increasing global attention.
Engelbert, 61, announced her decision Friday, September 4, saying she was retiring after more than 40 years in business and seven years as the WNBA’s first commissioner. Since taking over in 2019, Engelbert has overseen significant expansion of the women’s professional basketball league, including record increases in viewership, attendance, digital engagement, merchandise sales, League Pass subscriptions, corporate partnerships and franchise valuations.
Her tenure has also included major developments in player compensation and working conditions. Engelbert helped negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement this year that resulted in the first million-dollar player salaries in WNBA history.
The league is also set to expand from 12 teams to 18 by 2030, marking the WNBA’s largest expansion in its history.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Engelbert’s leadership, saying she presided over the league during the most significant period of growth in its 30-year history.
Engelbert’s tenure included several major milestones. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she oversaw the creation of the WNBA “Wubble” in Bradenton, Florida, allowing the league to complete its season despite widespread sporting restrictions.
She introduced the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in 2021 and helped secure a $75 million capital raise in 2022 described by the league as the largest-ever investment round in women’s sports at the time. The investment supported marketing, fan engagement, digital products and international growth. Engelbert also introduced a league-wide charter flight program, allowing WNBA teams to travel privately to games, addressing a long-standing concern about player travel and working conditions.
The league has continued to grow its schedule under her leadership, moving from a 44-game regular season in 2025 to a planned 50-game schedule beginning in 2027. The WNBA and NBA are expected to determine Engelbert’s successor as the league prepares for another major period of expansion and growth.
