Stakeholders Question WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s Future Leadership

More than 20 owners, executives, players and agents interviewed by ESPN have expressed doubt that commissioner Cathy Engelbert is the right leader to guide the WNBA beyond its current period of rapid expansion. While the league recently secured a historic collective bargaining agreement and is experiencing unprecedented growth, insiders say Engelbert’s leadership style and relationships with key constituencies are insufficient for the challenges ahead.

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Engelbert was appointed commissioner in May 2019 and has overseen two collective-bargaining negotiations that produced the league’s latest agreement. Under her tenure the WNBA entered its 30th season and entered a phase of “hypergrowth,” prompting league officials to aim for a transition to “sustained growth.”

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Engelbert responded by emphasizing her focus on the upcoming season and the league’s strategic plan.

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• “I'm focused head-down on executing this highly, highly successful 30th season,” — Cathy Engelbert, question whether commissioner

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• “All we're focused on is executing the strategy,” — Cathy Engelbert, question whether commissioner

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