The WNBA announced Friday that commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring from her position at the end of 2026. Engelbert, 61, was named the WNBA's first-ever commissioner in 2019, essentially replacing current NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, who was the WNBA's interim president from 2018 to 2019.

Engelbert was appointed first-ever commissioner of the league in 2019.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026, the league announced Friday in a statement.

Engelbert insists that the decision to leave was solely her own and that she did not feel any pressure to step down from NBA or WNBA stakeholders.

Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA are in absolutely no rush to define a woman. WNBA officials view the draft declarations by Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White as bad-faith political stunts rather than genuine eligibility claims.

Enes Kanter Freedom says he has already spoken with Caitlyn Jenner.