Cathy Engelbert, who oversaw WNBA boom, to retire as commissioner - ESPN

Cathy Engelbert will retire as WNBA commissioner following the 2026 season, ending her seven-plus years at the helm, the league announced Friday.

«Over the years, it has been amazing to watch WNBA players thrive and lead the massive cultural surge around women's sports,» Engelbert said in a statement. «I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined. I am grateful to the WNBA and NBA team owners and staff, players, investors, fans and the powerhouse league office staff, who believed in what this league could become. I retire with immense gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future of the WNBA, with the best yet to come.»

Her retirement will be effective as of Dec. 31, the league said.

Multiple high-ranking team sources had recently told ESPN that they believed the 2026 season would likely be Engelbert's last. While Engelbert, 61, has ushered the WNBA into what she has called «hypergrowth» mode, transforming the league into a significantly more prominent sports and entertainment property, her leadership had come into question over the past year.

Prominently, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier said in an explosive end-of-season interview last year that Engelbert was «negligent» in her governance and that the WNBA had the «worst leadership in the world.»

Shortly after Collier's remarks — which received widespread support from players — Engelbert vowed to address any concerns and do better, but sources across the league have told ESPN since that the commissioner has still struggled to develop sufficient relationship equity, not just among players but also with owners and upper-level management.

There was increasing discontent in league circles, according to