WNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won't be missed

News

Finance

Sports

Mail

Story by

Story by
WNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won't be missed | Opinion

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY

Sat, September 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM UTC ·

4 min read

About Our Ads

The most damning judgment of Cathy Engelbert's legacy as WNBA commissioner is that the league is thriving in spite of her, rather than because of her.

Engelbert had the good fortune to be commissioner at a time when interest in women's sports is exploding and Caitlin Clark has captivated the country. Instead of moving heaven and earth to capitalize on that, Engelbert alienated her players , dragged her feet on league expansion and charter flights , and was largely silent when internet trolls and bad actors spewed racism and hate and tried to make a mockery of the league .

She has been unable to meet the moment she was gifted, and she will not be missed.

"I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined," Engelbert said in the Friday, Sept. 4, statement announcing her retirement at the end of the season.

"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," she added. "I retire with immense gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future of the WNBA, with the best yet to come."

With Engelbert in the rearview.

Cathy Engelbert could have left a larger mark

There are commissioners who are transformative. The NBA's David Stern comes to mind , cleaning up the league's drug problems and fostering global growth of the game by blessing the Dream Team's participation at the 1992 Olympics. There are commissioners who are caretakers, wise enough to recognize a good thing and not mess it up. There are commissioners who are collaborative, seeing themselves as partners with the players rather than overlords.

Engelbert was none of those.

It is true the W is a vastly different league than when Engelbert took over in 2019. The salary cap ballooned almost 400% in the latest collective bargaining agreement , with the minimum player salary now $270,000, a far cry from its previous $66,079 floor. Purpose-built practice facilities are now the norm, rather than a wish. Teams are filling NBA arenas and ratings are rivaling the major men's sports .

But this is a credit to the league's players, not Engelbert.

According to AMS , the W's indexed viewership — think market share of ratings for all sports — began rising in 2014 and has grown in all but one year, 2017, since then. A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi were competitive and entertaining, and fans, owners and sponsors alike were taking note.

Then came Clark, whose pursuit of the NCAA scoring record and logo 3s made her a national icon in a way few women athletes had been previously. Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and Olivia Miles have only broadened the league's appeal.

It's true Engelbert recognized this.

"She brought a significant amount of business experience to the league and helped make the case for the value of The W and the opportunity in front of it," WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said in a statement.

But it's also fair to ask whether Engelbert did enough for the W.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks after the New York Liberty win the Commissioners Cup Championship against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center.
(John Jones, John Jones-Imagn Images)

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
(Jaime Valdez, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke before the Fever-Wings game.
(Sage Zipeto, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert smiles prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(Angelina Katsanis, Getty Images)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert presents the championship trophy to Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty after the team's 83-62 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in the 2023 Commissioner's Cup Championship game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 15, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
(Angelina Katsanis, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Olivia Miles (R) of TCU poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (L) after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
(Angelina Katsanis, Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 19: (L-R) WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert poses with MVP Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx following the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)

Apr 15, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after she is selected with the number one overall pick to the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music.
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

A panel discussion for students on women’s basketball during a Cleveland WNBA event, Sept. 16, 2025, features (from left) Cavaliers in-arena host Kierra Cotton, WNBA VP of Ticket Sales and Service Kiersten Green, Cleveland WNBA President of Business Operations Allison Howard, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and WNBA Director of Youth Basketball Operations Jessica Davis.
(Andrew Dolph, Akron Beacon Journal)

Angel Reese poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after she is selected with the No. 7 overall pick to the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024.
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

Jul 18, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu receives her trophy from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for the three-point contest during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to volunteers gathered Thursday, July 17, 2025, as part of the WNBAâ€™s Changemaker Day held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The community service initiative is hosted by the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee, Project Period Indy and Indy Hygiene Hub.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar, Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud receives her trophy from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after winning the 2025 WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18.
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

Steve Simon, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (middle right) and former WNBA player Tamika Catchings (right) work to pack hygiene kits Thursday, July 17, 2025, as part of the WNBA’s Changemaker Day held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)

Jun 25, 2024; Belmont Park, New York, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at the Commissioner’s Cup Championship game between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
(Wendell Cruz, Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the fans prior to the game between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center, May 17, 2025 in Brooklyn, New York.
(Imagn Images)

Jul 10, 2022; Chicago, Ill, USA; WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert presents the WNBA All Star Game MVP Award to Team Wilson guard Kelsey Plum at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
(David Banks, David Banks-USA TODAY Sports)

Paige Bueckers poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)

Cathy Engelbert, commissioner of the Women's National Basketball Association, plays golf during the first round of The American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)

Golden State Warriors co-executive director & chief executive officer Joe Lacob, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Warriors co-executive director Peter Guber pose for a group photo.
(D. Ross Cameron, USA TODAY Sports)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 11: (L-R) WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert looks on as A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces is presented with the WNBA MVP award as her mother Eva Wilson applauds before Game One of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs finals against the Connecticut Sun at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 11, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sun 67-64. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775867559 ORIG FILE ID: 1422946859
(Getty Images)

Did Cathy Engelbert do enough to improve the W?

The WNBA's $3.1 billion media rights deal ? There are some, Jackson included, who thought it was undervalued and questioned why Engelbert didn't insist on it being negotiated separately from the NBA's much larger deal.

"We have wondered for months how the NBA would value the WNBA in its media rights deal," Jackson said when the initial deal was announced in 2024. "With a reportedly $75 billion deal on the table, the (NBA) is in control of its own destiny. More precisely, the NBA controls the destiny of the WNBA."

The expansion of the league from 12 teams to an eventual 18? Engelbert dragged her feet – the W went 17 years between expansion teams – even as the NWSL was showing there was a market for more women's teams and the Golden State Valkyries were a blockbuster from the start.

The charter flights? Also a year too late, and only after incidents where player safety was at risk .

Most egregious, though, has been Engelbert's disregard for her players and her inability to protect them.

She didn't take the vitriol and hate players were experiencing seriously at first, downplaying it as a reflection of rivalries and a potential marketing boon. Rather than immediately calling out the firestorm over transgender players as the fabricated issue it is, her lengthy silence allowed bad actors to co-opt the WNBA as a stage for their performative nonsense.

Because of Engelbert's inaction, these issues – one very real and the other completely fabricated – have continued to fester and deflect attention from the very game she is supposed to be championing.

The bare minimum for every commissioner is to leave a league better than you found it. Engelbert can at least say that, even if she'll be remembered most for all the ways she fell short.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won't be missed | Opinion

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by:

WNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won't be missed | Opinion

Cathy Engelbert could have left a larger mark

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's career in photos

Did Cathy Engelbert do enough to improve the W?