Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to Retire in 2026

9/8/2026

1 1 Full Breakdown

Summary

Engelbert Retires

Cathy Engelbert, WNBA commissioner, will retire at the end of 2026.
Engelbert’s annual compensation is nearly $3 million, benchmarked to her former Deloitte CEO salary.
Player Napheesa Collier called the league’s leadership the ‘worst in the world’ and slammed refereeing.
Collier claimed Engelbert told young stars to be ‘on their knees’ with gratitude.
Engelbert denied making the comment about players being on their knees.

Summary

Clark Boosts WNBA

Caitlin Clark’s presence has helped the WNBA fill arenas and achieve record viewership over the past two seasons.
Fever games featuring Clark consistently generate the league’s highest ticket sales and television ratings.
Clark’s number 22 jersey now ranks alongside the NBA’s top-selling shirts nationwide.
Number 22 has become a cultural symbol, appearing on merchandise beyond the court and influencing fashion trends.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on 24 April 1996 and launched its inaugural season on 21 June 1997 with eight teams. The first game, New York Liberty versus Los Angeles Sparks, drew 14,284 fans and aired on NBC, capitalizing on the U.S. women’s Olympic gold win earlier that summer. Backed by the NBA, the league expanded to 12 teams by 2024, maintaining venues with NBA franchises.

1 of 3

Engelbert Retires

Cathy Engelbert, WNBA commissioner, will retire at the end of 2026.
Engelbert’s annual compensation is nearly $3 million, benchmarked to her former Deloitte CEO salary.
Player Napheesa Collier called the league’s leadership the ‘worst in the world’ and slammed refereeing.
Collier claimed Engelbert told young stars to be ‘on their knees’ with gratitude.
Engelbert denied making the comment about players being on their knees.

1 / 3