The WNBA will officially begin the search for a new commissioner. Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of this calendar year, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Friday.
Engelbert took on the role in 2019, and her seven-year tenure will come to an end at the end of the 2026 calendar year. Under her leadership, the league grew from 12 to 18 teams; viewership, engagement, and attendance have never been higher, and she helped negotiate transformative media deals, as well as a groundbreaking Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) this past offseason.
“After more than seven years at the WNBA and more than 40 total years in business, I have made the decision to retire as WNBA Commissioner,” Engelbert said in a statement released by the WNBA. “In 2019, I had the privilege of being appointed the league’s first commissioner and to lead a league with enormous potential yet untapped awareness and significant undervaluation. Over the years, it has been amazing to watch WNBA players thrive and lead the massive cultural surge around women’s sports.”
“Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history,” Silver said in a statement. “We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball.”
Engelbert told The IX Sports she “only intended to do this job for three-and-a-half years” and that it was always her goal to retire at the age of 62, which she turned last November.
“I just feel like we’re in a really good place from a variety of perspectives on the league, she told The IX Sports. “Obviously, it’s been an incredible seven and a half years. It’s been a great privilege.”
While this decision has seemingly been years in the making, it also comes at a time when criticism regarding Engelbert has risen — notably from WNBA players themselves, especially at the height of last year’s CBA negotiations.
Some popular names are at the top of the list regarding Engelbert’s replacement — one far more popular amongst fans than all the rest: Nneka Ogwumike. The 15-year WNBA veteran is currently serving her third term as President of the WNBPA — playing a massive role in the CBA negotiations. She recently announced her retirement after this WNBA season. In an interview with Taylor Rooks, Ogwumike was asked about the possibility of her becoming commissioner. She stated, “I don’t close doors. I don’t close doors! But I do appreciate a vacation.”
Other favorites to take over the role include Bethany Donaphin, who has served as the head of WNBA league operations since 2018. She had a brief stint as a player for the New York Liberty for two seasons in 2003-04. Another candidate is Mark Tatum, who served as interim WNBA Commissioner in 2018. He works closely with Adam Silver as the NBA’s deputy commissioner. Terri Carmichael Jackson is another possible replacement. She serves as executive director of the WNBPA and works closely with players.
Per Doug Fienberg of the Associated Press, the commissioner said she has been working on a succession plan the last few years. Fienberg noted that, while Engelbert didn’t give any specifics on who might be considered for the position, she said both internal and external candidates are on the league’s radar.
