The attention that the WNBA is receiving for off-court topics instead of the tremendous on-court action has led to Bill Simmons slamming the league’s leadership.
The WNBA is having a phenomenal on-court season with the rise of Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell’s high-scoring Fever, and the continued brilliance of A’ja Wilson.
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Instead, most of the focus has been on off-court issues, with the recent debate on trans athletes in the WNBA rearing its ugly head and taking the focus almost entirely away from the on-court action.
Bill Simmons thinks the WNBA Commissioner is failing the league
Simmons openly criticised the league’s leadership in the latest episode of ‘The Bill Simmons Show,’ saying he would personally bet that Commissioner Cathy Engelbert loses her job by the end of the year.
“Nobody needs a commissioner more than the WNBA right now… The league is legitimately fun to watch, and all everyone talks about is dumb s—. What the league really needs is a commissioner. I would personally bet anything that we will not have this commissioner next year.”
“I have never seen a league more determined to not push fun stars, and fun storylines, and fun people… Push your f—– players, instead it’s all this discourse stuff. Stepping in bear traps left and right because they have no adults in charge.”
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Simmons didn’t name Engelbert, but basically addressed her failings as the Commissioner and openly said he thinks she will be gone.
Who appoints the WNBA Commissioner?
With the NBA owning 42% of the WNBA, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver would have the most unilateral power in changing the WNBA’s Commissioner, but only if the WNBA Board of Governors approves the change.
Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
Engelbert’s contract as Commissioner is set to expire at the end of the 2026 season, so Silver and the Governors could easily not offer her a renewal and look elsewhere for a new face.
Engelbert has been openly criticised by players like Napheesa Collier in the past, and the mounting frustrations of the players over the league’s inability to adapt to their sudden rise in popularity might force Silver and the Governors’ hand to make a change.
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Options like Renie Anderson (NFL CRO and EVP), Mary Barra (CEO, General Motors), Swin Cash (NBA Front Office Insider) have been rumoured in the past, with even political figures such as Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris linked to the role.
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