Cathy Engelbert: Difference between revisions

 

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On May 15, 2019, Engelbert was named the first commissioner of the WNBA (previous WNBA leaders had been titled “president”). She officially assumed her new role on July 17, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/26754371/wnba-tabs-ceo-engelbert-1st-commissioner |title=WNBA tabs CEO Engelbert as 1st commissioner |first=Mechelle |last=Voepel |website=ESPN.com |date=May 15, 2019 |accessdate=May 15, 2019}}</ref> Engelbert has focused on growing the league, improving the player experience, building on corporate partnerships, and preparing for the renegotiation of the WNBA’s media rights. She has presided over a significant expansion of the league, adding franchises in San Francisco, Portland, and Toronto, with future expansion franchises planned for Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Voepel | first1=Michael | last2=Pelton | first2=Kevin | last3=Andrews | first3=Kendra | title=What to know about WNBA expansion to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia | website=ESPN.com | date=2025-06-30 | url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45618874/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia-cba-draft | access-date=2025-08-25}}</ref>

On May 15, 2019, Engelbert was named the first commissioner of the WNBA (previous WNBA leaders had been titled “president”). She officially assumed her new role on July 17, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/26754371/wnba-tabs-ceo-engelbert-1st-commissioner |title=WNBA tabs CEO Engelbert as 1st commissioner |first=Mechelle |last=Voepel |website=ESPN.com |date=May 15, 2019 |accessdate=May 15, 2019}}</ref> Engelbert has focused on growing the league, improving the player experience, building on corporate partnerships, and preparing for the renegotiation of the WNBA’s media rights. She has presided over a significant expansion of the league, adding franchises in San Francisco, Portland, and Toronto, with future expansion franchises planned for Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Voepel | first1=Michael | last2=Pelton | first2=Kevin | last3=Andrews | first3=Kendra | title=What to know about WNBA expansion to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia | website=ESPN.com | date=2025-06-30 | url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45618874/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia-cba-draft | access-date=2025-08-25}}</ref>

Despite these achievements, Engelbert’s leadership has faced increasing scrutiny from players. In July 2025, star rookie Caitlin Clark publicly questioned the league’s pay structure, pointing out that winning the Commissioner’s Cup earned players more than winning the WNBA Finals, saying: “Someone tell Cathy to help us out.”<ref>{{cite news |title=Caitlin Clark: Commissioner’s Cup pay ‘makes no sense’ |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/caitlin-clark-commissioners-cup-pay-makes-no-sense-2025-07-02/ |newspaper=Reuters |date=July 2, 2025 |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>

Engelbert’s leadership has faced scrutiny from players. In July 2025, star rookie Caitlin Clark publicly questioned the league’s pay structure, pointing out that winning the Commissioner’s Cup earned players more than winning the WNBA Finals, saying: “Someone tell Cathy to help us out.”<ref>{{cite news |title=Caitlin Clark: Commissioner’s Cup pay ‘makes no sense’ |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/caitlin-clark-commissioners-cup-pay-makes-no-sense-2025-07-02/ |newspaper=Reuters |date=July 2, 2025 |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>

Concerns over Engelbert’s leadership have also grown amid a rise in player complaints and injuries. Reports noted an increase in total injuries across the last two seasons, with critics linking the trend to officiating quality, player workload, and the league’s response to athlete safety.<ref>{{cite news |title=WNBA playoffs expose growing officiating crisis amid rise in injuries |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25254280-2025-wnba-playoffs-are-exposing-growing-officiating-crisis

Concerns over Engelbert’s leadership have also grown amid a rise in player complaints and injuries. Reports noted an increase in total injuries across the last two seasons, with critics linking the trend to officiating quality, player workload, and the league’s response to athlete safety.<ref>{{cite news |title=WNBA playoffs expose growing officiating crisis amid rise in injuries |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25254280-2025-wnba-playoffs-are-exposing-growing-officiating-crisis

|website=Bleacher Report |date=September 28, 2025 |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>

|website=Bleacher Report |date=September 28, 2025 |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>

American business woman and WNBA Commissioner

Catherine M. Engelbert (born November 14, 1964) is an American administrator, accountant, and businesswoman who has been the commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) since 2019. Before joining the WNBA, she had been with Deloitte for 33 years, including as its first female CEO from 2015 to 2019.

Engelbert grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey, with five brothers and two sisters. She attended Collingswood High School.^[1] She was inducted into the Collingswood Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.^[2] Her father Kurt was an IT manager, and her mother a medical practice administrator.^[3] He was a three-year letterman on Saint Joseph’s University men’s basketball teams in 1955, 1956 and 1957, the last two coached by Jack Ramsay, and selected in the fourth round (26th overall) by the Detroit Pistons in the 1957 NBA draft.^[4][5][6] Engelbert graduated from Lehigh University in 1986, with a degree in accounting. At Lehigh, she tried out for the basketball team as a walk-on under Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw, and later became a team captain.^[7] She also played lacrosse, and became a captain of that team as well.^[3] After graduation, she received her CPA certification and became a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.^[8][9]

Engelbert joined Deloitte in 1986 and made partner in 1998.^[10] A year before making partner she had decided to resign to pursue a career outside of professional services; two senior partners who saw her potential helped convince her to stay.^[11] As partner she held multiple leadership roles, serving on the Deloitte LLP board of directors and several committees, and in 2014 was appointed as CEO of the audit subsidiary Deloitte & Touche LLP.^[12][13]

In March 2015 Engelbert was elected CEO of Deloitte, becoming the first female U.S. CEO of a Big Four firm.^[14] News media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, highlighted Engelbert’s appointment as cracking the “glass ceiling.”^[15] In an interview, she credited Deloitte’s early focus on supporting women in the workplace as being important for her career.^[16]

While serving as Deloitte’s CEO, Engelbert made investments in technology and took steps to prioritize employee retention.^[17] During her tenure as CEO, Deloitte’s revenue increased 30% to over $20 billion.^{[18][19][20][21]}

On May 15, 2019, Engelbert was named the first commissioner of the WNBA (previous WNBA leaders had been titled “president”). She officially assumed her new role on July 17, 2019.^[22] Engelbert has focused on growing the league, improving the player experience, building on corporate partnerships, and preparing for the renegotiation of the WNBA’s media rights. She has presided over a significant expansion of the league, adding franchises in San Francisco, Portland, and Toronto, with future expansion franchises planned for Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.^[23]

Engelbert’s leadership has faced scrutiny from players. In July 2025, star rookie Caitlin Clark publicly questioned the league’s pay structure, pointing out that winning the Commissioner’s Cup earned players more than winning the WNBA Finals, saying: “Someone tell Cathy to help us out.”^[24]
Concerns over Engelbert’s leadership have also grown amid a rise in player complaints and injuries. Reports noted an increase in total injuries across the last two seasons, with critics linking the trend to officiating quality, player workload, and the league’s response to athlete safety.^[25]
In the 2025 postseason, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier delivered one of the sharpest rebukes, “We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world.” Collier accused the commissioner of being dismissive of player concerns, failing to hold the league accountable, and ignoring mounting safety issues, characterizing her leadership as “tone-deaf” and “unresponsive.”^[26]

Engelbert is a member of The Business Council. She also serves on the boards of McDonald’s Corporation, Royalty Pharma, and Catalyst, and on the executive committee of the USGA.^[27]

Engelbert has two children, Julia and Thomas.^[15][28]