Last week finally witnessed a huge moment following elongated negotiations between the players’ association and the WNBA over a new collective bargaining agreement. On March 18, a new deal was agreed upon verbally. And on Tuesday, March 24, it was officially ratified by the league’s Board of Governors.
The official WNBA account on X announced that the board “unanimously ratified the terms for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.” It was also underlined that the agreement will be in effect for seven years, starting from the 2026 season and running through 2032.
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“This marks the beginning of a bold new era of the WNBA – one made possible by the passion and dedication of the players, team owners, fans, investors, partners and the entire WNBA family”, commissioner Cathy Engelbert wrote as part of the announcement post.
Now everyone’s focus is going to be on the hardwood once again. The W’s 30th season will tip off in May, bringing back stars like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A’ja Wilson and many others in action for their respective franchises.
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But when it comes to league commissioner Engelbert herself, the road ahead is not looking really smooth. A credible insider recently spilled beans on Cathy’s uncertain future as the WNBA leader.
Insider suggests WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s exit is inevitable and here’s why
During a recent interview on the Flagrant and Funny podcast with Cari Champion and Jemele Hill, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile shared crucial details on the possibility of the league witnessing a “transition of power”.
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When asked “How long before Cathy Engelbert is no longer there?”, Costabile replied, “I’ve talked to a lot of sources within the league, owners specifically, who have concerns about Cathy going back to the 16% stake sale for $75 million. At the time that was looked at as this celebratory moment outwardly, but there were a lot of people inside that were like, ‘This is a mistake.’ It’s my opinion that the deal getting done does not fix all the issues that existed beforehand.”
Speaking briefly about the 2022 deal, commissioner Engelbert had sold the W’s 16% stake to raise $75 million for “brand elevation, marketing, and the globalization of the WNBA” following the pandemic that affected the league. There was need for more money to keep the operations running and hence she made this decision.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
Per the insider, it’s clear that a lot of people within the league were not excited about this move from Engelbert. Earlier this year in January, the league tried to buy back that 16% stake. There’s been no update on that situation yet. However, Costabile believes that Engelbert’s reign as the commissioner of the WNBA may not extend longer now, considering how there’s been a clear divide even among players over her leadership.
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Last year in September, Minnesota Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier had called out Engelbert for not addressing the officiating properly. She revealed Engelbert told her that “only the losers complain about the refs.”
Collier had also asked her why players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers were making so little in their first four years despite driving huge revenue for the W. Engelbert’s response was: “[Clark] should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”
Talking about Engelbert’s role moving forward, Costabile continued, “I think leading up to this (CBA) deal, there was a lot of speculation, serious speculation about her future and once this deal got done, there would be a transition of power. And I don’t think that this deal getting done changes that.”
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Last October, there were rumors of Engelbert stepping down after the completion of the CBA deal. But she denied them saying “I’ve never been a quitter.” According to the insider, however, “I think that when you look at Cathy’s tenure, it lines up with the idea that there there could be a transition of power in the near future.”
Related: Sophie Cunningham Reacts to Napheesa Collier’s Cathy Engelbert Takedown
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
