WNBA President Laurel Richie to Resign: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

After five years serving as WNBA president, Laurel Richie is resigning from her post, effective Monday, Nov. 9, to pursue other interests.

HoopFeed.com reported the news Wednesday, indicating Richie would become more involved in the multiple institutions in which she serves on the board of directors.

The report also featured Richie's comments on her departure from the WNBA:

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I am proud of what the WNBA has been able to accomplish during my tenure and am grateful for the opportunity to play my part in setting the stage for the 20th season and beyond. I was fortunate to work with some very special people, from owners, to league and team staff, to the passionate fans of the WNBA, to the incredibly talented WNBA athletes. I will forever be a fan of the WNBA and a champion for all it stands for.

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Mark Tatum will take over Richie's post on an interim basis. Tatum is the NBA's deputy commissioner and praised Richie for the job she did at the highest level of women's professional basketball:

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We thank Laurel for her five seasons of service and commitment to the WNBA and wish her success in her future endeavors. The league's quality of play and depth of talent have never been better. We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving growth in fan interest and future business performance reflective of the extraordinary state of the oncourt product.

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The Indiana Fever provided some context for Richie's pioneering leadership:

Evidence of Tatum's claims regarding the WNBA's improvement under Richie's watch lies in the parity of recent years. The Chicago Sky had a sub-.500 regular-season record in 2014 yet still ran all the way to the WNBA Finals.

Although the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx have won four of the past five WNBA titles (the Indiana Fever won in 2012), they have ultimately benefited from recent transcendent talents in Brittney Griner and Maya Moore, respectively. A similar phenomenon occurs in the NBA as well as all levels of basketball.

Three WNBA teams folded between 2006 and 2009, including the Houston Comets, who own the record of four league championships. Under Richie, no teams have gone under, competition has thrived and proliferated and big names such as Griner have helped grow the women's game.