Cathy Engelbert's run as WNBA commissioner could be coming to an end fairly soon.
Engelbert has been running the WNBA since June 2019. She has dealt with plenty of drama over the past few years, including how to handle the way teams guard Caitlin Clark. The star guard for the Indiana Fever has dealt with plenty of hard fouls, including a shot to the throat from Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas.
Sports Business Journal reported that Engelbert wasn’t set on suspending Thomas despite making reckless contact with Clark. NBA commissioner Adam Silver implored her to suspend Thomas for a game.
Engelbert later agreed to an interview with Dan Patrick to discuss this situation and other trending topics in the WNBA. She ultimately pulled out of that interview, leading to a ton of backlash from the media.
"When Cathy Engelbert used gender as cover when she was asked difficult questions, it came off as small," former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill said. "As commissioner, she’s supposed to set the tone for the league. I don’t think she’s built for the moment the W is in. She should be out front on this and she isn’t. Weak statements aren’t going to cut it."
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Well, according to Alexa Philippou, "multiple high-ranking team sources" believe the 2026 season will be Engelbert's last as the WNBA's commissioner.
"Conversations with more than 20 stakeholders in and around the WNBA who spoke on the condition of anonymity, including owners, management, players and other industry insiders, offer a general belief that for as much business growth Engelbert has overseen, she's not the right person to navigate the demands the league currently faces and what its stakeholders now need," Philippou wrote.
Caitlin Clark's role in all of this.
According to Philippou, WNBA sources are surprised Engelbert hasn't "prioritized developing a closer relationship" with Clark considering she's the league's most marketable player.
If Engelbert gets replaced in 2027, the next commissioner of the WNBA will want to be on good terms with Clark.
Engelbert will speak to reporters this Saturday before the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. We'll see if anyone asks her about this report from ESPN.
