This week on The IX Sports Podcast Basketball Edition, hosts Jackie Powell and Howard Megdal break down the news that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026.
Engelbert is 62 years old, and has served in the role for more than seven years.
“Her mother is 90. Her kids are in their 20s. She wants to spend time with a large extended family,” Megdal said. “… You add in the fact that she has been the target, and her family has been the target of unceasing criticism, and it’s easy to understand why this would be the time for her to make this decision.”
Engelbert’s legacy
After briefly discussing how Engelbert has been helping plan her own succession for years, Powell and Megdal turned to a discussion of Engelbert’s legacy.
“She oversaw a capital raise. She led expansion. She secured media rights deals. She was a part of two transformational CBAs. She helped change the public perception of the WNBA. She grew partnerships. She professionalized the league,” Powell said.
Megdal emphasized the way Engelbert has grown the league’s infrastructure, especially with regard to marketing and public perception.
“It is maybe my most unpopular opinion, but I just think the people who dismissed the accomplishments under Cathy Engelbert as ‘they would have happened anyway, no matter what,’ boy, that’s a really hard one for me to swallow,” Megdal said.
In an interview with Megdal, Engelbert seemed to agree.
“When I came in, we were facing some serious questions about our long-term viability and sustainability, but I knew the game was great, and I’m grateful now to be leaving the league in a strong position,” Engelbert said in an interview with Megdal.
Whoever fills the role next, Megdal said, “needs to capitalize on and build on this momentum. It’s really going to be fundamentally important.”
Tune in to the episode to hear the Court Vision segment breaking down the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany — and to hear more thoughts on Engelbert’s legacy.
Make sure to subscribe to The IX Sports Podcast for in-depth coverage of women’s soccer, hockey and basketball; and tune in each weekday morning for a quick overview of the biggest headlines on Women’s Sports Daily, like WNBA news and PWHL expansion updates.
