“We have the worst leadership in the world.” Napheesa Collier’s once-brutal assessment of the WNBA’s leadership became a major catalyst for rising demands for Cathy Engelbert’s replacement as WNBA Commissioner. Now, roughly a year later, Engelbert has confirmed that she will step down at the end of 2026. Interestingly, the response from another major WNBPA voice could not have been more different from Collier’s earlier criticism.

“Cathy Engelbert stepped into the WNBA at a pivotal moment and helped guide the league through a period of extraordinary change. As the league’s first Commissioner, she championed new growth initiatives, created innovative marketing opportunities for players, and helped drive historic expansion as franchise values reached new heights.”

“That expansion speaks to the growing confidence among investors, partners, fans, communities, the players, and to the long-term sustainability of women’s basketball as a business,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said in a statement shared on Instagram.

“Leading through this much change is no small undertaking, and I have great respect for the commitment Cathy brought to the role. We appreciate all she has given to the WNBA and the stronger foundation she leaves for the league and the players.”

Whatever the criticism surrounding Engelbert, her tenure undeniably coincided with a remarkable period of growth for the league. She became the WNBA’s first Commissioner and oversaw major developments that included record television ratings, strong attendance, a new long-term media rights agreement, and expansion plans that will take the league to 18 teams by the end of the decade. She also helped negotiate the new collective bargaining agreement this spring, bringing the WNBA its first million-dollar player salaries. However, the picture was not entirely positive.

Alongside this growth came a series of controversies that kept Engelbert under increasing scrutiny. Officiating problems, debates surrounding physicality against specific players, and the controversy over transgender athletes all added to the pressure surrounding the Commissioner’s position. As those issues continued to dominate conversations around the league, calls for Engelbert’s removal became increasingly difficult to ignore.

With the outside pressure mounting, it would be natural to wonder whether it ultimately pushed her toward the decision. Engelbert, though, says it did not. She maintained that the choice was hers and that she never felt pressured by NBA or WNBA stakeholders to step aside.

“When I first came to the league I intended to do this for 3 1/2 years,” Engelbert said in a phone interview.

“The 7 1/2 years exceeded that time. This is a really good time given the financial transformation journey we’ve been on. Getting the collective bargaining agreement done, getting a long-term media rights deal done, getting expansion done.”

In fact, she even has some idea of what comes next. According to The Guardian, Engelbert said she has been working on a succession plan for several years. She stopped short of naming potential replacements, but confirmed that both internal and external candidates are being considered. So, while Engelbert’s exit closes one of the most consequential chapters of her time with the WNBA, the league now moves toward finding the person who will take over from her.