The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced on Friday that Commissioner Cathy Engelbert plans to retire at the close of 2026. A replacement has not yet been identified.
Engelbert, who became the league’s first commissioner in 2019, led the organization through a period of unprecedented expansion. During her tenure, television viewership surged by approximately 454% and game attendance climbed by roughly 70%, according to WNBA data. The league also secured significant increases in corporate sponsorships and franchise valuations.
According to CNBC’s 2026 Official WNBA Team Valuations, the average team is now worth $460 million. The Golden State Valkyries, which joined the league in 2025, became the first women’s sports team to reach a $1 billion valuation. Engelbert also oversaw plans to expand the league from 12 to 18 teams by 2030 and helped negotiate a landmark collective bargaining agreement earlier this year that delivered the largest pay raises in league history.
“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 in a statement. “We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball.”
Despite these achievements, Engelbert’s leadership has faced sustained criticism from players regarding compensation, officiating, and the league’s handling of social issues. Last year, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier famously stated, “We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But, right now, we have the worst leadership in the world.”
More recently, the league has grappled with political backlash over transgender women participating in sports, a controversy that some players feel Engelbert did not address adequately. There are currently no transgender players in the WNBA.
Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBA Players Association, highlighted the financial gains achieved under Engelbert’s watch. “Being able to have your worth tied mostly in your salary is all that we’ve been fighting for, and it’s what we were able to achieve,” Ogwumike told CNBC Sport.
In her farewell statement, Engelbert expressed gratitude to owners, staff, players, investors, and fans. “I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined,” she said. “I retire with immense gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future of the WNBA, with the best yet to come.”
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