WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announces retirement as league searches for successor
7 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 10:16 AM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced her retirement on Friday after leading the league for seven years. Engelbert intends to remain in the position through the end of the year to ensure a stable leadership transition. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will oversee the hiring process for the next commissioner, who will be the sixth person to hold the top administrative role in the league's 30-year history. Candidates currently under consideration include both internal league staff and external business leaders. Players have expressed a desire for a successor who balances professional business acumen with a deep understanding of player experiences. The Board of Governors will review a list of candidates provided by the current administration.
- •Cathy Engelbert will serve until the end of the year or until a successor is named.
- •NBA Commissioner Adam Silver leads the selection process for the league's Board of Governors.
- •Internal candidates include Bethany Donaphin and Colie Edison.
- •Swin Cash and Nneka Ogwumike have been identified as potential candidates for the vacancy.
- •The search aims to balance business expertise with representation for the league's player base.
- 10:16 AMYahoo Sports — Wanted: A new WNBA commissioner. She must be everything to everyone
- 10:05 AMYahoo Sports — WNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won't be missed | Opinion
- 9:42 PMESPN — Cathy Engelbert retirement: Her legacy and what comes next for WNBA
- 9:10 PMYahoo Sports — WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who has overseen the league’s growth and the challenges that have come with it, will retire at the end of 2026
- 8:15 PMYahoo Sports — Who will be the next WNBA commissioner? Potential candidates, qualities the league may pursue in Cathy Engelbert's successor
"For about 44 awkward seconds inside a nightclub, Cathy Engelbert was indeed the beloved commissioner of the WNBA. The setting: the 2025 All-Star weekend in downtown Indianapolis. The vibe: mixed drinks and bad decisions. The moment: Engelbert and a pair of pink-haired players, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, streaming their ‘StudBudz’ shenanigans nonstop. With the camera rolling and the DJ playing the party anthem “Knuck If You Buck,” Engelbert greets the players, tells them they’re “ama
"Cathy Engelbert did little to help WNBA during her time as commissioner. The league finally has a chance to move forward, Nancy Armour writes.
"What does the league need from its next commissioner after Cathy Engelbert retires? Is the WNBA better off now than when she took over?
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 5, 2026, 10:16 AMWanted: A new WNBA commissioner. She must be everything to everyone
For about 44 awkward seconds inside a nightclub, Cathy Engelbert was indeed the beloved commissioner of the WNBA. The setting: the 2025 All-Star weekend in downtown Indianapolis. The vibe: mixed drinks and bad decisions. The moment: Engelbert and a pair of pink-haired players, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, streaming their ‘StudBudz’ shenanigans nonstop. With the camera rolling and the DJ playing the party anthem “Knuck If You Buck,” Engelbert greets the players, tells them they’re “ama
- Yahoo SportsSep 5, 2026, 10:05 AMWNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won't be missed | Opinion
Cathy Engelbert did little to help WNBA during her time as commissioner. The league finally has a chance to move forward, Nancy Armour writes.
- ESPNSep 4, 2026, 9:42 PMCathy Engelbert retirement: Her legacy and what comes next for WNBA
What does the league need from its next commissioner after Cathy Engelbert retires? Is the WNBA better off now than when she took over?
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 9:10 PMWNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who has overseen the league’s growth and the challenges that have come with it, will retire at the end of 2026
Cathy Engelbert is leaving the WNBA better than she found it, but some tough challenges await the next commissioner.
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 8:15 PMWho will be the next WNBA commissioner? Potential candidates, qualities the league may pursue in Cathy Engelbert's successor
The search for a successor is on after WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced her retirement on Friday.
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