Why WNBA stakeholders are questioning Cathy Engelbert's future as commissioner

As the WNBA heads into its All-Star break, commissioner Cathy Engelbert remains in the spotlight.

The WNBA commissioner has faced her fair share of controversies over her tenure, and that has led to questions surrounding her future in that role. Engelbert took over as WNBA commissioner in 2019 and has been in charge for many important moments in WNBA history, but hasn't always approached them properly.

Therefore, with Engelbert's contract close to expiring, stakeholders within the league wonder if the WNBA will move on and find a new commissioner after the season. Here's what stakeholders are saying about Engelbert.

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Why WNBA stakeholders are questioning Cathy Engelbert's future

With Engelbert's contract set to expire after this season, the WNBA commissioner may not be in charge of the league much longer. ESPN's Alexa Phillippou reports that stakeholders in the league are not that confident in Engelbert's ability to run the league.

"I do think Cathy thinks, well, she's done her job. She got us financially set up the right way," a team executive told Phillippou. "It's the other pieces that we're talking about."

Under Engelbert's leadership, the WNBA has seen many PR controversies in the last few years, taking attention away from the on-court product. Through it all, Engelbert hasn't been as present as many believe the commissioner of the league should.

"Here we are with all this stuff that's happened," a different team executive said, "and it just, at different points, has felt like, 'Where are you?'"

Engelbert became the WNBA's first commissioner in 2019 after a stint as the first female CEO of Deloitte, where she was hand-picked by NBA commissioner Adam Silver to run the league. However, some within the organization believe that Engelbert doesn't have the relationships necessary to be WNBA commissioner.

In response, Engelbert has maintained her commitment to the WNBA as the league is in the midst of its 30th season.

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Cathy Engelbert controversies

The WNBA has been a part of some notable controversies under Engelbert's watch that have blown up instead of dying down. Among those recent controversies are:

• Not immediately suspending Alyssa Thomas for pushing her fist on Caitlin Clark's neck. Thomas was later given a one-game suspension after Silver reportedly advised Engelbert, and this incident led to congressional Republicans writing a letter to Engelbert in defense of Clark.
• Star Napheesa Collier claiming that the WNBA has the "worst leadership in the world" at her end-of-season press conference last year.
• An interview in 2024 in which she didn't acknowledge the toxic nature of fandom in the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry, with both entering the league that year.
• Not letting pay for charter flights for teams to fly to games until 2024, as players instead flew commercial on road trips.
• Not appearing at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in June, citing personal conflicts.

Overall, Engelbert's tenure has been marred by a bunch of smaller controversies that have built up and created a reputation around the league.

Cathy Engelbert contract

Engelbert joined the WNBA in 2019 as the league's first commissioner, and her current contract is set to expire after the 2026 season. Therefore, it could be an opportunity for the league to get a new commissioner in to match how much it's grown over the past few years.