Cathy Engelbert announced Friday that she will step down as WNBA commissioner at the end of December. She retires after a seven-year tenure as the league's first person to hold the title. Before taking the role in 2019, she led Deloitte as its first woman CEO.
Cathy Engelbert Leaves 7-Year WNBA Legacy
Under her watch, the league's business footprint exploded. Franchise values climbed from roughly $10 million to an estimated $460 million. Later, a hard-fought collective bargaining agreement introduced the WNBA's first million-dollar player salaries.
Engelbert also secured a blockbuster media rights deal and stretched WNBA expansion to 18 teams by the decade's end.
Still, her reign also brought friction.
Players and fans questioned her response to on-court safety issues. Debates over transgender athlete eligibility added further tension. Critics also argued the WNBA's viewership surge owed more to stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and A'ja Wilson than to front-office leadership.
And the league's historic CBA deal was only achieved after months of executive pushback to union demands.
What Happens After the WNBA Commissioner Retires?
"A great leader senses when it's time for someone else to come in," Engelbert said of her choice to step down.
As of now, no successor has been named. The league plans to begin its search with Engelbert's help after the season ends. Should NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fail to find a replacement before the 2027 season starts, Engelbert said she'll stay on to help.
