WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert used the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game weekend in Chicago to announce a major investment in WNBA officiating. Starting in 2027, the league will operate a centralized replay center with advanced cameras installed in every arena.
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Reviews will funnel through the NBA's existing facility in Secaucus, New Jersey. Engelbert said the league plans to leverage the NBA's infrastructure while adding its own technology to the review system. However, she sidestepped questions about adopting the NBA's Last 2 Minute report, saying the league is still talking it over with players.
The announcement follows a season defined by officiating backlash. It also comes as Engelbert faces uncertainty about her own role. Pressed on whether she expects to return in 2027, she offered no direct answer.
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"I'm so blessed to be at the helm of the league during this incredible hyper growth period," Engelbert said. "I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy because it has been working."
Engelbert has served as WNBA commissioner since 2019, overseeing new TV deals and last offseason's collective bargaining agreement. Yet a recent ESPN report cited more than 20 league stakeholders questioning her leadership.
