WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is stepping down after the 2026 season, ending a growth-filled yet tense seven-year stint.
Reactions were swift, with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith bluntly declaring it “about time,” pointing to her strained relationship with players as proof that a leadership change was long overdue.
Stephen A. Smith Claims WNBA Players ‘Don’t Mind Seeing Her Gone’ Following Cathy Engelbert’s Retirement Announcement
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dropped the news on Friday, keeping things purely celebratory, thanking Engelbert for guiding the WNBA through the “most significant period of growth in the league’s 30-year history.”
Engelbert also released her own statement reflecting on her run since 2019. “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,” she said.
She noted how rewarding it was to watch players thrive in a league once defined by “untapped awareness and significant undervaluation.”
Outside the corporate office, though, the reactions from the general public and fans were less sentimental. Smith didn’t waste a second before saying what many were already thinking.
“About time. Took long enough,” Smith declared bluntly on “First Take.”
While giving her brief kudos for negotiating the latest collective bargaining agreement, Smith ripped into her handling of player relations and crisis control.
“One controversy after another came up and Cathy Engelbert appeared to be reactive as opposed to proactive in terms of warding off some of the negative hostility and momentum aimed at players’ directions, which is something that they lamented,” Smith said.
“I think it’s very, very wise for her to retire. I thought she was ill-equipped to handle the oncoming microscope that the WNBA obviously had developed. And I think that they do need new leadership. So it’s good that she’s retiring. It’s good that she stepped away,” he added.
Stephen A on Cathy Engelbert retiring:
“About time. Took long enough. They’ve been wanting her gone…nobody’s going to be lamenting the fact that she’s gone at least not WNBA players. You can book that. They don’t mind seeing her gone” pic.twitter.com/LODDfJrp4k
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) September 4, 2026
It creates a strange, divided legacy for the 61-year-old, who took over in 2019 as the league’s first commissioner. On paper, her business achievements are massive.
Engelbert helped negotiate two historic CBAs (2020 and 2026) and oversaw an aggressive expansion plan growing the league from 12 to 18 franchises by 2030.
Yet every step of financial growth seemed to be paired with a communication mess and fierce debates. Engelbert faced mounting criticism over her handling of various issues. Players were left catching intense online heat while league leadership scrambled behind closed doors.
For a commissioner who oversaw staggering commercial success, her inability to shield or connect with her own athletes raised questions. After her retirement at the end of the 2026 season, the WNBA might search for someone who can manage both the business side and the locker room.
