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Engelbert steps down
News of Cathy Engelbert’s retirement struck last Friday morning with relatively mild reaction.
Of course, the timing was interesting. The news dump on the Friday before the holiday weekend during the FIBA World Cup break seemed like a strategic plan to temper the response. But the news that Engelbert’s last day as commissioner It will be the last day of the year, it didn’t shock anyone anyway.
Going back to last fall, Engelbert’s future as WNBA commissioner was thrown into serious question when Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier publicly destroyed her leadership skills and laid out the details of the private conversation. Despite Engelbert denying the comments Collier claimed she made, the damage was done. Not even ratification revolutionary collective agreement could correct all relations.
When NBA commissioner Adam Silver was adamant about Engelbert’s future in the spring, the writing was on the wall that 2026 would likely be her last year at the helm.
Engelbert’s contract expires at the end of the year, sources said The Athletic. The process to select a new commissioner will begin “later this month,” according to memos Silver sent to league stakeholders.
While the end of Engelbert’s tenure included more criticism than praise, there’s no denying the fact that she presided over the league during its most successful period of growth. Many will remember it for its relationship pitfalls, but the unprecedented financial gains, record expansion fees and stability the league has achieved deserve recognition.
Some of her biggest triumphs include getting the league through a pandemic season, managing the sale of the Atlanta Dream from Kelly Loeffler to a three-person investor group of Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery and, of course, ratifying two CBA contracts.
Engelbert, the WNBA’s first commissioner, was the right person at the time, in 2019, when Silver handpicked her. But now, the league needs a person who can balance the business side of things with the present moment.
More needs for the next commission
The 2026 WNBA season has been steadily swallowed culture wars and conversations about everything outside the game itself. Engelbert is not responsible for this disagreement, but her backward approach certainly didn’t help. This points to one of the most obvious needs for a new commissioner, namely someone who can be more proactive.
The next WNBA commissioner one should understand the unique cultural dynamics in this league and not hesitate to address them directly. Even if it means checking players.
Another need for a new commissioner is someone who can build consensus among the league’s stakeholders, which include owners, investors, coaches, general managers and players. It’s impossible to have everyone in permanent agreement, but the gap that has grown between Engelbert and the league’s biggest stakeholders, the players, is one that the next commissioner cannot afford to create.
More Engelbert:
A quick break for some news before we talk about the actual trustee candidates.
Fast Breaks
📃 After Enes Kanter Freedom got into a mid-game dispute with Sky keeper Natasha Cloud, was ejected from the Wintrust Arena and banned indefinitely, sued the team. Owner of the sky Michael Alter called the lawsuit “insignificant and frivolous.”
🤕 In a big loss for Liberty, forward Satou Sabally is out until the end of the season, including the playoffs. She has been sidelined since June with a concussion.
🏀 The Sparks hiring Philadelphia 76ers vice president of personnel Ariana Andonia as their new general manager.
🏙️ Unrivaled is going back to Barclays Center in Brooklyn as part of his national tour.
💬 “A person believed to have sent a racist text message Dear Hamby from the Los Angeles Sparks late last month lost their jobs.” More.
Your next commissioner choice?
Engelbert shared a list of external and internal candidates to replace her, which was shared with Silver and the WNBA Board of Directors. Silver will select the next trustee in partnership with the board.
Sabreena and Chantel made the list potential candidatesall of which you also suggested. Former player and CEO of She’s Got Time Swin Cash was a name I saw coming from fans and readers as well as from mrs. Ogwumikewho retires at the end of this season.
Other suggestions include Condoleezza Rice, president of Jordan Brand and CEO of the NFL. Find the complete list of potential candidates here.
The League gives priority to a candidate who can build unity among its stakeholders. Knowing what we know, you tell us: Who do you want to see as the next WNBA commissioner (from our list or not)?
As always, find us at NoOffseason@theathletic.com.
World Cup quarter-final preview
Big Hit / Getty Images
Afterwards tough game against Italy in which Team USA held its lowest score since 1971, the Americans pulled away dominant 105-64 win over the Czech Republic yesterday to close the group game.
The USA played a much cleaner offensive game against the Czech Republic, shooting 52 percent from the field, but their 3-point shooting percentage was still below 30 percent.
The U.S. has been on a collision course with France since the 2024 Olympics and seems destined to play in the gold medal game. (But first, the U.S. faces the winner of Hungary-Japan, tipped today at 11:45 a.m. ET.)
Statistically speaking, the French national team outperforms the USA by a significant margin. Through three games, the French are averaging 101.7 points per game, while the USA is averaging 84.7. They are shooting 48.5 percent from 3-point range, while the Americans are shooting 29 percent. The French also average about 10 more 3-point attempts per game.
France will play the winner of Puerto Rico-China in the quarter-finals. Assuming the French advance, they’ll then face either Belgium, Germany or Korea – whichever comes out of the qualifiers and then wins their quarter-final match.
French captain Gabby Williams leads the tournament in points per game, averaging 18.7 while shooting 58.7 percent from the field and 55 percent from 3. The USA doesn’t have a single player in the top 30 in scoring average through three games, which speaks to their more balanced offense.
Jackie Young is ranked 33rd in the tournament, but is Team USA’s leading scorer, averaging 11.3 points per game. Breanna Stewart and Paige Bueckers are 39th, averaging 10.3 points per game.
All that French influence seen in the WNBA it can only wreak havoc on the World Cup.
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