WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert spent most of Monday’s news conference ahead of the 2026 draft taking a victory lap, basking in the afterglow of the new collective bargaining agreement.
She celebrated that historic and transformational deal and fondly reflected on the challenging process that produced it.
She noted the wins that came with the deal, which she said delivered the single largest pay increase in the history of the sport and features the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports.
She talked about new partnerships, the prospect of globalizing the women’s game, improvements to officiating and more.
Monday should’ve been a celebration, paired with an opportunity to address some of the criticism she and the league are facing.
But Engelbert found herself trying to put out little fires with gasoline.
Engelbert was asked about the Connecticut Sun sale and the franchise’s move to Houston in 2027, which has left some New England fans feeling alienated.
She said New England and Boston didn’t submit a bid in the prior expansion process.
“I would say to the fans, support the Connecticut Sun this season and it’s a great basketball state, obviously,” she said. “I would say stick with us. Stick with the WNBA. We know that fandom won’t go away.”
Engelbert’s relationship with players also had been under a microscope throughout CBA negotiations. At the end of last season, Napheesa Collier blasted Engelbert, saying the WNBA had the “worst leadership in the world.” The Women’s National Basketball Players Association vice president also said the “real threat” to the league isn’t money, ratings or officiating, but a lack of accountability at the top.
Engelbert previously told ESPN that she had to do a lot of listening throughout the CBA process. When asked what she learned through that process, Engelbert brought up team-provided housing and her explanation came off as tone deaf.
“I didn’t know how important and emotional that was for them because I just assume, having two children in their 20s, who pay for their own housing, that once they were making these much-increased salaries, that that wasn’t something they would need or want,” Engelbert said. “But they made it very clear, it was very important to them. It was an emotional issue.”
Because of the strained relationship between players and Engelbert, the commissioner’s job security is in question.
Asked whether she wants to stay as commissioner beyond this season, Engelbert deflected and even used the gender card against a female reporter.
“I do crack up how everyone is focused on me,” Engelbert said. “… I wonder if you would ask that of a man.”
Ultimately, Engelbert skirted the question and refused to address her desire to stay in the job less than three weeks after her boss, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, didn’t provide much clarity on her future. If anything, she downplayed the leaguewide speculation that she’s standing on unsteady ground.
“I’m so proud of this league. I’m here working really hard to make the 30th season our best ever and to continue to build that sustainable economic model we know we need for the future,” Engelbert said. “Nothing else to report, which is probably why Adam didn’t report anything. There’s no story here. I’m thrilled with our trajectory. I’m thrilled with the growth, thrilled [with] what we’ve done over the past couple of years and really looking forward to the next few years.”
There’s a lot of excitement building up to the 2026 season, which tips off May 8.
“Season 30 arrives at what I think is the perfect moment,” Engelbert said. “A historic CBA, new broadcast partnerships, two new expansion teams, with three on the way, continued global expansion, enhancements to the on-court product and [an] exciting new rookie class who you’re all going to see tonight. That’s all coming off a record 2025 season. Again, this starts a new chapter. Can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
But there are also a lot of questions looming over the WNBA as it enters the next phase.
