WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert retiring at the end of 2026

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026, the league announced Friday in a statement.

Engelbert, 61, has been the league’s commissioner since July 2019.

“I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined,” she said in a statement. “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.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver added, via his own statement: “Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history. We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball.”

By Rohan Nadkarni

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026, the league announced Friday in a statement.

Engelbert, 61, has been the league’s commissioner since July 2019.

“I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined,” she said in a statement. “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.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver added, via his own statement: “Cathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history. We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s basketball.”