WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring, the league announced Friday. Although the announcement stated she will retire at the end of this year, other sources report that she will retire after the 2026 season.
Engelbert served as the league's leader for over seven years, making her the second-longest-tenured WNBA president or commissioner. Her tenure was marked by transformative and unprecedented growth for the league.
Despite these achievements, Engelbert's stewardship was at times tumultuous. She faced criticism from players over her leadership and scrutiny regarding her handling of multiple issues.