Englebert has presided over expansion, but has been criticized for the league's handling of Caitlin Clark and trans policies.
Page A3From§Eachthe early bird edition — 4 September 2026
WNBA commissioner leaves with league 'much better' and 'time to go'
The WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, is stepping down after steering the league into what the press calls a 'much better' position. That's the story we're told—a league, finally finding its footing, and the boss ringing the bell for last call. The receipts, though, say it was 'definitely time to go.' The league gets the credit for climbing, and Engelbert gets the exit before the next hard season. The scoreboard keeps the numbers, but the credit keeps going up the ladder, not down to the floor. It's the oldest play in the book: pack up when the numbers look good, never mind the rest of the game. The league will play on; the next headline won't name who made the shot. That's power's scoreboard, and the score never leaves the top.
“A league finally gets its feet under it and the boss calls it 'time.' That improvement didn't just walk in on its own—now the suits get the credit and take the exit before the bill comes due. The game keeps going, but the scoreboard stays up top.”
“It's called leadership—knowing when you've done enough. Cathy Engelbert set the table, now it's up to the players to—wait, did I say 'enough'? I meant, uh, she timed her exit perfectly to maximize—well, you get it.”
The receipts
Engelbert, WNBA commissioner since 2019, announced Friday that she is retiring at the end of the year
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.