Cathy Engelbert was put on the spot as she was popping champagne. Engelbert was celebrating the new CBA and the start of a new era at the 2026 draft. That’s when she was asked about her future as the WNBA Commissioner referring to Adam Silver’s lack of clarity last month. “We haven’t had those discussions yet with the WNBA board,” Silver had said. The response from Engelbert has spread like wildfire, inducing backlash that includes WNBA legend Candace Parker.
“I do crack up how everybody’s focused on me, and you should be focused on the thousands of women who run this league, outside of me,” Engelbert said. “Our women owners, board of governors, GMs, and head coaches and my whole team of diverse women and men who are working hard to get our 30th season tipped off by May 8th.” However, the thing that she said next is the reason for the criticism.
“I appreciate that you’re focused on me as well, I wonder if you would ask this of a man, by the way.” To which the reporter, Madeline Kenney interjected and said, “I would.” Engelbert ignored that and continued, “We get asked different questions than men do.” She further said that she is focused on growing the league and that “there is no story here.”
“Cathy Engelbert was kind of defensive when asked how much longer she’ll be the WNBA commissioner,” Parker said on the “Post Moves” podcast. “I laughed because there are many instances where we deal with that, but I know that Roger Goodell is asked every day whether he’s going to return as commissioner of the NFL.”
Kenney further doubled down after the clip went viral on social media, saying, “To be clear: I would’ve asked this question to a man.” From Adam Silver to Goodell, almost every commissioner in US Sports is torn down on social media and asked about their failings. Engelbert is not different in that sense.
And it’s peculiar she resorted to this because Engelbert was asked the same question months ago. “I’ve never been a quitter,” she told reporters ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. “I’m entering my 40th year this month in business. I’ve never been a quitter or shied away from tough situations.” So, why resort to such tactics now? According to Parker, Cathy Engelbert was unprepared for the question.
“It felt like one of those situations where she probably should have been prepared for that question,” Parker said. “Her PR team likely should have anticipated it. Responding with “would you ask that of a man?” and then having the reporter say yes was funny.”
Maybe Engelbert did not expect criticism on the night after her success with the CBA. But that will not erase the past where Napheesa Collier called Engelbert negligent. She also revealed private conversations where Engelbert said that Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” to be making millions off the court.
Engelbert later denied that, but it has left a mark on the players and the fans. The relationship further eroded during the CBA negotiations. And this was just one controversial statement out of that press conference.
Cathy Engelbert’s Entire Press Conference Worsened Her Perception
That moment was not the only one that has raised criticism of Cathy Engelbert. She called players’ demand for housing in the CBA “emotional.” Engelbert said Boston never submitted a bid for expansion. She called for the Sun fans to stay loyal despite their team moving out of the city immediately next season.
“What was left unsaid is how they could have foreseen that Connecticut, the team already in their market, would ever be moved out of it,” Madeline Kenney said. “They told fans to continue to stick around when fans are dealing with the fact that they’re losing their WNBA team in a year.”
Engelbert’s role is especially important in 2026. The league is growing at an unprecedented rate and expanding with multiple expansion teams. The WNBA is now operating under a new broadcast deal worth $2.2 billion. She needs to have the trust of the fans and the WNBA community. Her plan is grand and if Engelbert wants to continue, such answers will only push the fans away.
“There were several other instances throughout that 26-minute press conference that left you sitting there wondering if she was not media trained,” Kenney further said. “It surprised me, some of the answers to various questions.”
This controversy does not provide a clear answer about who will lead the WNBA in the near future. The leadership is tied to the NBA and Adam Silver thanks to its ownership structure. This institutional change will require some time to breathe.
It feels like the current offseason is too rushed to make a leadership change. Doing it midseason could destabilize the existing plan. So, expect this question to once again be asked approaching the 2027 season or after the 2026 season ends.
