ESPN WNBA analyst Chiney Ogwumike is demanding more from the league's commissioner, Cathy Engelbert.
Engelbert, who has served as the commissioner of the WNBA since 2019, was previously the first female CEO of Deloitte. The businesswoman has faced some growing criticism for her leadership of the WNBA. Fans, players, media members and more have sounded off on her performance.
Ogwumike is the latest to do so. The longtime WNBA player turned analyst is demanding better accountability and leadership from the head of the league.
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During a new episode of her podcast, Chiney Today, ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike sounded off on the commissioner of the WNBA, demanding better accountability and leadership from the head of the league.
Ogwumike sounds off on WNBA commissioner
The WNBA analyst believes the commissioner has fell short of expectations.
“When we talk about open-door policies, Cathy Engelbert says she has an open-door policy, but to me, players have to initiate,” Ogwumike said, per Awful Announcing. “I don’t see a circumstance, in my experience and in talking to a number of (players), where she’s doing a lot of the initiating. Or, a player might initiate, and the follow-up may not be in a meaningful way where the player feels like their relationship can continue to go.”
She compared the WNBA's leadership to the NBA's.
“When we reach out, it’s not ignored,” Ogwumike said of the NBA. “But they also know us. They are invested in our stories.”
She's calling for Engelbert to do more.
“I think dynamics have changed with Cathy Engelbert. That was initially the aspiration, and at times, I felt that,” she said. “I think there is a level of responsibility on the commissioner to be there in the biggest and most challenging moments, and we are not necessarily experiencing that, despite myself having countless friendly encounters with her.”
