NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2026 – Following seven successful years as the first-ever Commissioner of the WNBA, Cathy Engelbert has informed the league of her decision to retire, effective at the end of this year, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

“Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history,” said Silver.  “We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball.”

Engelbert’s tenure as WNBA Commissioner has been marked by unprecedented growth.  Under her leadership, the league has seen exponential increases in viewership and historic highs have been reached in digital engagement, game attendance, League Pass subscribers, merchandise sales, corporate partnership revenues and franchise valuations.

Engelbert directed the WNBA’s most substantial franchise expansion to date – from 12 to 18 teams by 2030 – and helped negotiate the most transformative media rights and collective bargaining agreements in league history, leading to historic salary increases and benefits for WNBA players.

“After more than seven years at the WNBA and more than 40 total years in business, I have made the decision to retire as WNBA Commissioner,” said Engelbert.  “In 2019, I had the privilege of being appointed the league’s first commissioner and to lead a league with enormous potential yet untapped awareness and significant undervaluation.  Over the years, it has been amazing to watch WNBA players thrive and lead the massive cultural surge around women’s sports.”

In 2020, her first full season as commissioner, Engelbert oversaw the creation of the WNBA ‘Wubble’ in Bradenton, Florida, which allowed the league to play a season amid the COVID pandemic.  In 2021, she introduced the in-season WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase and in 2025, expanded the regular-season schedule to a then-record 44 games and to a record 50-game schedule beginning with the 2027 season.

In 2022, Engelbert led a $75 million capital raise – the largest-ever investment round in women’s sports – to fund long-term growth initiatives, including marketing and fan engagement, upgrading the WNBA’s digital products and distribution, and growing the league’s footprint internationally.  She also introduced an airline charter program for teams and players to travel privately to all games, a first for women’s professional team sports in the U.S.

Engelbert continued, “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.”