With tensions between the WNBA league office and players still high after a strained collective bargaining agreement negotiation, commissioner Cathy Engelbert did not handle a question about her longevity in her position with grace.
Engelbert held a press conference before the 2026 WNBA Draft, where UConn’s Azzi Fudd was selected first overall.
But when asked by Madeline Kenney of the New York Post how much she wanted to stay in her role – and how long she thinks she might stay there – Engelbert retorted back with a quip about how her gender may have a role in said query.
‘I do crack up how everybody’s focused on me and you should be focused on the… thousands of amazing women who run this league outside of myself,’ Engelbert said before praising the owners, board of governors, general managers and head coaches in the league.
‘But I appreciate that you’re focused on me as well. I wonder if you would ask that of a man, by the way, but I realize as women we get asked different questions than men do.’
Kenney retorted that she would ask the same question to a man before Engelbert continued, saying, ‘Nothing else to report which is probably why [NBA commissioner] Adam [Silver] didn’t report anything, there’s no story here.’
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert delivered a poor response to a question about her future, asking if the question would be posed to a man in her same position
Engelbert is coming off a tense and prolonged CBA negotiation that threatened the WNBA season – which led to multiple players openly questioning her ability to lead the league
Almost instantly, Engelbert was met with criticism and backlash for making the question an issue of gender. Multiple sports reporters then mentioned how the men who run the NHL, MLB, NFL and NBA constantly get scrutinized by fans of all ages, races and genders.
‘Male pro sports commissioners get asked questions about their future all the time. Totally valid question – and a fascinating, super-defensive response,’ wrote NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach.
‘If a man had her track record, absolutely,’ posted Jemele Hill of The Atlantic.
ESPN hockey reporter Greg Wyshynski noted, ‘[NHL commissioner] Gary Bettman gets asked this question so often that he’s taken to preemptively answering it before it’s asked.’
Golf writer Kevin Van Valkenburg commented, ‘I mean, we asked [PGA Tour commissioner] Jay Monahan some version of this for three years.’
‘Wait until you hear about what they say about Adam Silver,’ reporter Josh Berman posted.
FrontOfficeSports’ Ryan Glasspiegel wrote, ‘This is a question that she knew or should’ve known was coming and she should’ve had a better answer for it.’
One fan noted, ‘No wonder the WNBA is poorly run. She’s playing gender politics like there wasn’t almost a lockout, a rival league started and her leadership called out publicly by a player.’
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been facing increased criticism from fans in recent years
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is set to leave his job when his contract lapses in 2029
Roger Goodell (L) and Gary Bettman (R) are so reviled by fans that they lean into it at drafts
All four of the major pro sports league’s commissioners are constantly ridiculed for their jobs.
Silver, who was once considered the top commissioner among the ‘Big Four’ leagues, has seen increased heat from fans over the years.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has faced calls to resign so often that he’s already announced he’ll step down when his contract ends in 2029.
Bettman and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell have become so routinely booed during their respective league’s entry drafts that they’ve leaned into the ‘villain’ role for comedic effect.
No such boos came for Engelbert when she walked out on stage to announce the opening of the draft.
In fact, when she noted the signing of the new CBA, it led to a round of applause.
But those were not the only controversial remarks made by the commissioner that night. She was also asked about the scrutinized deal to move the Connecticut Sun to Houston, Texas – removing a women’s basketball team from one of the states that has the biggest fanbase for the sport in the country.
Engelbert told reporters that the league ‘did not receive’ an expansion bid from the Boston or New England market, which is why they moved to a market which did make a bid. She also stressed that a move to Houston has not yet been finalized, as it is pending a decision from the Board of Governors.
Engelbert was also criticized for her response to a question about the Connecticut Sun’s sale
Despite bids to keep the Sun in Connecticut – or move them to nearby Boston – the WNBA agreed to sell the team to an ownership group which would relocate the team to Houston
‘I would say to the fans, support the Connecticut Sun this season and it’s a great basketball state, obviously,’ Engelbert said. ‘I would say stick with us. Stick with the WNBA. We know that fandom won’t go away.’
This response received significant backlash, considering the league reportedly received bids to keep the team in Connecticut via a move to the state capitol of Hartford.
An bid to move the team to Boston was also reportedly accepted by the Sun’s owners – the Mohegan Tribal Nation – before the Houston deal was approved which would, if approved, remove a WNBA franchise from New England entirely.
‘I sincerely hope she shows up to a game this year so she can get booed straight to hell, never to return,’ wrote one Sun fan. ‘She knows this is the nastiest bs and still feels the need to repeat it with a smile and a straight face.’
Another fan of the team said, ‘Lying piece of s**t. F*** Cathy and f*** the WNBA.’
‘I think that @CathyEngelbert needs to keep CT fans out of her mouth truthfully,’ another angry Sun fan posted. ‘Each time she speaks on our fanbase she just makes it worse.’
