WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert dodged the biggest question hanging over the league this past weekend at her pre-All-Star Game press conference. When directly asked if she expects to be commissioner in 2027, Engelbert was completely evasive, leaving fans and players wondering what’s next for the league’s top executive.
The Commissioner’s “Blessed” Defense Isn’t Sticking
Engelbert leaned hard into a defense centered on the league’s perceived growth, declaring, “I am so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hypergrowth period.” She insisted she would “continue to do my job, execute the strategy because it’s been working.” She went on about how blessed she is, how the players put on a great product, and how they stand for the league’s values. She even highlighted the “powerhouse team” she’s built internally, claiming the league office expanded from 12 people when she started in 2019 to nearly 100 full-time staff now. Engelbert cited leveraging the NBA model and building “enormous capability” in digital and social, with engineers, marketers, and data scientists. For her, it’s about leading that team to help the game grow so young girls can see WNBA players as role models, even mentioning how many Nike National EYBL players are buzzing about getting drafted in 2033 or 2034. It’s a lot of talk about growth, sure, but it doesn’t really answer the main question, does it?
Player Backlash and the Uncomfortable Truth
Despite Engelbert’s focus on growth, her tenure since 2019 as the WNBA’s first commissioner, after years with a “president” in charge, has been anything but smooth sailing. She’s been under “significant fire” lately, with a “contentious labor battle” and “numerous off-court controversies” plaguing the league. You know it’s bad when even the players are calling it out directly. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier didn’t pull any punches last September, stating, “We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world.” That’s a brutal assessment, and it makes Engelbert’s non-answer at the All-Star Game hit different. It’s clear the conversation about her future isn’t just fan speculation. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver even confirmed at a press conference earlier this month that the NBA and WNBA are already having “ongoing discussions” about Engelbert’s future as commissioner.
So, while Engelbert talks about blessings and hypergrowth, the reality is there’s some serious internal friction and questions about the league’s direction from its own stars. With the WNBA at a critical point, having its commissioner unable to confirm her future speaks volumes. What does this mean for the league moving forward? We’re all left watching, waiting to see what these “ongoing discussions” actually lead to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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