NEW YORK — While WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert just finished negotiations to ensure that the league has a new collective bargaining agreement in time for the 2026 to season start without delays, her future in the role is unclear for now. Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner who hired her, could not say whether she would remain in the job after this season.
Engelbert has been in the role since 2019 and has led the league during a period of tremendous growth for the WNBA and through two CBA negotiations, but she also has faced significant critiques.
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“We haven’t had those discussions yet with the WNBA board,” Silver said Wednesday when asked if Engelbert would be commissioner after this upcoming season.
“I would always say Cathy’s done a fantastic job since she’s come to WNBA. Obviously you can see just in the results, but I haven’t had those discussions recently with Cathy, even in terms of her future plans and how long she wants to do this. She had a storied career before she came to the WNBA, with Deloitte, but I want to say the results speak for themselves.”
Franchise valuations and player salaries rose during Engelbert’s tenure, and the league also added six new franchises through expansion, but she has also taken a steady stream of criticism from the league’s players and its fans. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier publicly rebuked her in September and other players voiced their support of Collier comments.
Silver, however, said he has been pleased with where the league has gone. The WNBA just completed a new CBA earlier this month that will substantially boost salaries, improve revenue-sharing and provide labor peace for at least six seasons.
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“I’m very happy,” Silver said. “And I know the ownership is very happy with where things stand in the WNBA.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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