WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to step down at the end of 2026
Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will leave her position at the end of 2026 after seven years in the role. Engelbert’s successor has not yet been named, CNBC Top News reports.
League growth
Engelbert became the first commissioner of the WNBA in 2019. During her tenure, the league recorded significant growth in television viewership, game attendance, corporate sponsorship and franchise values. According to the WNBA, game viewership has increased by about 454% since 2019, while attendance has risen by about 70%.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called this period the most important stage of growth in the WNBA’s 30-year history and thanked Engelbert for her contribution to the development of women’s basketball. According to CNBC estimates, the average value of a WNBA team in 2026 is $460 million. The Golden State Valkyries, which joined the league in 2025, became the first women’s sports team valued at $1 billion.
During Engelbert’s tenure, the league expanded from 12 teams and is expected to grow to 18 teams by 2030. Earlier in 2026, she also helped negotiate a collective agreement that, according to CNBC, delivered the largest salary increase in WNBA history.
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Criticism from players
At the same time, Engelbert’s work was accompanied by tensions in relations with some players. They raised concerns about pay, officiating, as well as the league’s response to racism and online harassment. Some basketball players believed that player benefits and protection mechanisms had not kept pace with the rapid growth of attention to the WNBA.
Minnesota Lynx player Napheesa Collier sharply criticized the league’s leadership last year, calling it the worst in the world. In recent weeks, according to CNBC, concerns have also grown over whether Engelbert responded appropriately to political protests surrounding the participation of transgender women in sports. CNBC notes that there are no known transgender players in the WNBA.
In a statement, Engelbert thanked WNBA and NBA team owners, staff, players, investors and fans. She said she was finishing her work with gratitude and optimism about the league’s future.
