WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is set to step down at the end of the year, marking the conclusion of her seven-year leadership. During her tenure, she oversaw the creation of the league’s first collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which included the introduction of million-dollar player salaries. This agreement, along with a long-term media rights deal and expansion efforts, has significantly transformed the financial landscape of the WNBA. Engelbert, who will turn 62 in November, stated that she had been contemplating retirement for months and felt this was a “really good time” to leave, emphasizing that her decision was entirely her own and not influenced by external pressures from the NBA or WNBA stakeholders. Engelbert is the second-longest-tenured commissioner in WNBA history, and her leadership contributed to major growth in areas such as viewership, digital engagement, game attendance, merchandise sales, and corporate partnerships. The average value of a WNBA franchise has increased dramatically, from $10 million in 2019 to an estimated $460 million in 2026. However, this growth has also come with challenges, including heightened social media criticism directed at players and ongoing discussions about the inclusion of transgender athletes. Engelbert clarified that there are currently no eligibility issues regarding transgender athletes in the WNBA, and any future concerns would be addressed through a collaborative process with the players' association and players themselves. Not all players have praised Engelbert's leadership. Napheesa Collier, a forward for the Minnesota Lynx and a member of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBAPA) executive committee, criticized her during a postseason press conference, calling her leadership "the worst in the world." Despite this, Engelbert claimed she maintains a good relationship with the players, even though recent CBA negotiations were marked by tension. She acknowledged the impact of online hate speech on her family but did not elaborate further. Engelbert plans to focus more on her family, including her mother, who is turning 90, and her children, whom she said she has not seen enough of. Her retirement will officially take effect on January 1, marking the end of an era for the WNBA and the beginning of a new chapter for Engelbert.