Earlier in September, Cathy Engelbert announced that she would retire as WNBA commissioner at the end of this calendar year. Since then, players and experts have joined the conversation to assess the 61-year-old's performance during her tenure. The newest addition to the list is eight-time WNBA All-Star Tina Charles .
In a recent conversation on Sue Bird 's YouTube podcast , Charles was asked what qualities she wanted in the new WNBA commissioner. However, the New York City native took the conversation to a different angle and had plenty of praise for Engelbert.
Praising Engelbert's contributions to the league's growth and partnerships, Tina Charles said, "Everybody's not perfect, but she definitely did help push us forward, bring us forward. Someone who understands where we're at and where we need to continue to go. Valuing relationships."
"I think it's hard to know what someone needs if you don't have a relationship with them, the level of communication. I think that's very important in a leader."
"But someone who's definitely able to take us even further to see what the product is and make the right adjustments, have those conversations, and then even able to have uncomfortable conversations. That's even important as well."
Jun 11, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert meets with the working media before Portland Fire against the Las Vegas Aces at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
Since Engelbert's retirement announcement, there has been considerable debate over her stances on various matters. From her views on what a woman should be to the lengthy CBA negotiations, she has frequently been a topic of discussion around the league. However, her tenure as WNBA commissioner certainly coincided with significant growth in the league, and her replacement will be expected to continue the momentum.
After a 17-day hiatus to accommodate the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup , the WNBA has returned for the final regular-season games. Since a total of 70 current and former league stars featured in the quadrennial event, there is considerable speculation about what impact the tournament will have as the league progresses into the postseason.
While discussing her thoughts on the matter, Tina Charles said, "Everybody's hurt right now. There's a difference between being hurt and there's a difference between being injured."
Charles further shared a piece of advice: "I think for those players, it's just mindset. It's like, hey, you can use it as an excuse. You did have to go over there. You did have to continue to put your body on the line. Or you can take it and continue to play at that level. Continue to see how you could quarantine your teammates of where now you were in their position."
Aug 3, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison (21) looks to pass the ball against Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (31) in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
WNBA heads into the playoffs on September 27, 2026. As of this writing, the Minnesota Lynx sit atop the standings with 31 wins, followed by the Golden State Valkyries with 29 wins.
More WNBA News:
