WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026, an end to a nine-year tenure that saw some of the most impressive growth the league has ever experienced, that included a stint in the "Wubble" as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, and that was examined and cross-examined by good faith actors and by those who just wanted to start drama online. When Engelbert's time as head of the WNBA is reflected upon down the road, it's likely most people will have more positive than negative things to say.
Sure, she's no stranger to controversy and problems, but that's kind of what comes with leadership, especially leadership of a league as opinionated, diverse, and strong as the WNBA. Whoever replaces Engelbert will inherit the high expectations that come with the job, the real and the imagined mistakes Engelbert made, and will also be expected to innovate and help steer the league toward and through more rounds of success.
While there are plenty of candidates who are being floated around, the new WNBA Commissioner may well come from inside the house. The Athletic took a look at likely candidates, and came up with a list that includes the name of one person who seems to make a lot of sense: Bethany Donaphin. If her name sounds a little less familiar than some of the others that have been floated (Swin Cash and Geno Auriemma are on the list), that may be because she's mostly worked for the NBA and the WNBA for the last 10 years.
But Donaphin's basketball credentials run deep. She played at USC under Tara VanDerveer and for one season in the WNBA before she spent another five playing overseas. She began working for the NBA soon after, and has spent the last 8 years on the WNBA side of operations.
Donaphin currently works as effectively the second-in-command at the WNBA, The Athletic noted. The league doesn't have an appointed assistant commissioner or some kind of vice president, but if it did, it would be Donaphin. Elevating Donaphin to the role could be a three-armed win: players and coaches are already more than familiar with her and, presumably, comfortable with the relationship; she is especially privy to the ins and outs of all of the deals Engelbert helped nurture and bring into the league; and she's also well aware of the pressure that comes with the role and what is likely expected of her, or of anyone who takes over.
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