{"id":2654738,"date":"2026-09-04T15:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T19:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wnba-commissioner-to-step-down-amid-tumltuous-year\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T15:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T19:34:20","slug":"wnba-commissioner-to-step-down-amid-tumltuous-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wnba-commissioner-to-step-down-amid-tumltuous-year\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA Commissioner to Step Down Amid Tumltuous Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwnba-commissioner-to-step-down-amid-tumltuous-year%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2654738&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert plans to retire at the end of 2026 after leading the league for over seven years during a period of critically important growth, including securing long-term media rights, league expansion, and financial improvements. She is the second-longest-serving commissioner in WNBA history and is recognized for her leadership during a transformative era.engelbert expressed pride in her accomplishments and confidence in the league\u2019s future. Her tenure, however, faced some controversies, such as public disputes over player conduct, issues surrounding transgender athlete participation, and a series of high-profile incidents criticized by media outlets. Despite the challenges, she believes it is indeed the appropriate time to pass leadership to the next generation. The league continues to grapple with social and political issues in the sport, but Engelbert remains optimistic about the league&#8217;s prospects moving forward.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert plans to retire at the end of 2026 after leading the league for over seven years through a chaotic and controversial era.<\/p>\n<p>She is the second-longest-serving WNBA president or commissioner, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/engelbert-retiring-wnba-commissioner-1cdfcb8a9839e9b84257e68e0791fa46?taid=6a9ae73707aa2e00016440a7&#038;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&#038;utm_medium=AP&#038;utm_source=Twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according <\/a>to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCathy has presided over the WNBA through the most significant period of growth in the league\u2019s 30-year history,\u201d NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly said on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are grateful for Cathy\u2019s leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women\u2019s basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Engelbert, 61, told the AP that she has been pondering retirement for several months.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I first came to the league I intended to do this for three and a half years,\u201d she said during a phone interview. \u201cThe seven and a half years exceeded that time. This is a really good time, given the financial transformation journey we\u2019ve been on. Getting the collective bargaining agreement done, getting a long-term media rights deal done, getting expansion done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also d a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/wnba\/story\/_\/id\/49825466\/sources-wnba-commissioner-cathy-engelbert-retire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> with ESPN which read, \u201cOver the years, it has been amazing to watch WNBA players thrive and lead the massive cultural surge around women\u2019s sports.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined,\u201d Engelbert continued. \u201cI 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. I retire with immense gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future of the WNBA, with the best yet to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Engelbert\u2019s tenure was not without public drama, however, causing her to deny that she was pressured to step aside.<\/p>\n<p>Despite leading the league during a period of growth and newfound media attention, the WNBA has garnered negative media attention for several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shes-fing-up-democrats-reportedly-worried-kamala-harris-cant-beat-any-republican-in-2024-including-trump\/\" title=\"\u2018She\u2019s F***ing Up\u2019: Democrats Reportedly Worried Kamala Harris Can\u2019t Beat Any Republican In 2024, Including Trump\">high-profile issues<\/a> over the past 18 months or so.<\/p>\n<p>The main focus has been physical attacks by other players against Indiana Fever star player <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/caitlin-clark-career-game-transgender-controversy-erupts-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Caitlin Clark<\/a> and the definition of what a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/republican-calls-wnba-trying-ways-womens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">woman<\/a> is regarding player eligibility. There have also been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-angel-reese-blames-caitlin-clark-fans-death-threats-accuses-racism-wild-segment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial divisions<\/a> that have spawned culture war talking points on both sides of the political spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>An August article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/outkick-sports\/long-list-embarrassing-wnba-incidents-what-happens-when-sports-leagues-made-politics-their-primary-focus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">published<\/a> by Fox News highlighted the \u201clong list of embarrassing WNBA incidents\u201d that have occurred under Engelbert\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n<p>It cited how Clark was treated poorly by most of the WNBA, despite breathing new life into the financially floundering league, as jealousy and infighting took center stage.<\/p>\n<p>The story also mentioned Clark\u2019s teammate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/charles-barkley-takes-major-stand-sophie-cunningham-enes-kanter-trans-players-title-wnba\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sophie Cunningham,<\/a> who has also faced public backlash online, and highly physical fouls on the court.<\/p>\n<p>Cunningham declared that biological men should not play in women\u2019s sports, which drew media criticism, but also brought more attention to the issue.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom made headlines when he declared for the WNBA draft, in an effort to force league officials into taking a stance on transgender players.<\/p>\n<p>Kanter Freedom, along with former NBA player Royce White, was ultimately declared ineligible for the 2027 WNBA draft, with the league <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2026\/08\/24\/sport\/former-nba-players-not-wnba-eligible\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">framing<\/a> their actions as a publicity stunt.<\/p>\n<p>The saga continued when\u00a0Kanter Freedom filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago Sky and the owners of Wintrust Arena.<\/p>\n<p>The team banned Kanter Freedom from attending WNBA games following his removal by security personnel last month, WLS-TV <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/ex-nba-player-enes-kanter-freedom-files-federal-lawsuit-chicago-sky-wintrust-arena-owner-mpea-city-ejection-ban\/19786782\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Court documents obtained by WLS Thursday revealed that the lawsuit centers on Kanter Freedom\u2019s First Amendment rights. Kanter Freedom got into a \u201cverbal altercation\u201d with Sky point guard Natasha Cloud during a game against the Indiana Fever.<\/p>\n<p>He had courtside seats and was donning a T-shirt that read: \u201cWOMAN noun. adult human female.\u201d After the two argued, Kanter Freedom was made to leave.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Kanter Freedom] has demonstrated to us, unequivocally, that he has the potential to be a threat,\u201d Sky owner Michael Alter said. \u201cThat he is not able to control himself to the extent where we can be comfortable that he may [not] step towards the court again and towards the players.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, so that is the basis for which we will not permit him into the building until such time as he can prove otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Associated Press reported that Engelbert has been working on a succession strategy for years, but she did not provide details on who her replacement might be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a good time to hand it off to the next leader to take the \u2018W\u2019 into a better phase,\u201d she explained. \u201cI\u2019m proud of the team we built and everything we accomplished. A leader knows when it\u2019s time to drop the mic and move on after building a powerhouse team in the league office.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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She is the league\u2019s second-longest-serving president or commissioner, per AP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2654739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Englebert-vs-Caitlin-and-Sophie.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4563,50402,40962,10140,7188],"class_list":["post-2654738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-commissioner","tag-leadership-2","tag-sportsnews","tag-turbulence","tag-wnba"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Englebert-vs-Caitlin-and-Sophie.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2654738"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2654746,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654738\/revisions\/2654746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2654739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2654738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2654738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2654738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}