WNBA Denies Rumor Cathy Engelbert Will Exit as Commissioner After CBA Negotiations

Cathy Engelbert's time as the WNBA commissioner was reportedly heading toward an end even before Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier turned heads with her public comments and criticism Tuesday.

Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal reported Engelbert was "likely" going to be done as the commissioner after the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations came to an end "due to pressure inside NBA and WNBA circles."

A WNBA spokesperson told Friend that "the sources' comments were 'categorically false.'"

Engelbert came to the WNBA from Deloitte six years ago and has been the commissioner as the league landed an 11-year media rights deal with expanding franchise values, attendance and revenues.

However, things have certainly been rocky of late, and Friend reported her eventual exit will be "relationship driven" based on her dealings with colleagues and players as the league expands.

"She's not a people person," one source said. "That's not who she is. It has been an issue [before CBA negotiations]."

Another added that, "she hasn't connected; she's not a relationship builder, which you have to be in that job with the teams, with the players. I think she's a wicked smart business person, and the success she gets a lot of credit for. But a commissioner has to have a personality element that can touch every constituent that they have. I think she's just lacking in it."

Engelbert's status was placed firmly under the spotlight Tuesday when Collier used her exit interview to read a prepared statement that said the WNBA has "the best fans in the world, the best players in the world, but the worst leadership in the world."

Collier directly criticized the commissioner, revealed Engelbert said Caitlin Clark wouldn't make any of her endorsement money off the court without the WNBA's platform, and took issue with the way the league has not addressed officiating concerns.

"Today's comments from an influential player such as Collier presumably won't help Engelbert's already unstable public standing and most likely exacerbated it," Friend reported.

Engelbert released a statement in reply to Collier:

"I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA," Engelbert said. "Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver."

All of this comes amid an ongoing CBA negotiation that is likely the most important one in league history.

League revenues, attendance, television ratings and overall popularity have exploded in recent years, and the players are surely in line for higher salaries and more benefits than in the past. Many of the players made headlines during the All-Star Game when they warmed up in shirts that said "Pay Us What You Owe Us."

The league is also expanding with the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire joining in 2026, a Cleveland team joining in 2028, a Detroit team joining in 2029, and a Philadelphia team joining in 2030.

It is a pivotal time in WNBA history, and Engelbert's long-term status as the commissioner is now under question.