WNBA Commissioner Engelschutz Plays 'Gender Card' in Press Conference

The WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelstiefzschitz (Engel), was asked about her future as she navigated the league through a stressful collective bargaining agreement before the start of the 2026 season. She responded by playing the gender card, saying: "I do crack up how everybody's focused on me, and you should be focused on the hundreds of amazing women and thousands of women who run this league outside of myself. " Engelbert is in an exclusive club of female commissioners of professional sports, alongside Jessica Berman (National Women’s Soccer League) and other female commissioners.

The players called on the league to pay more during a demonstration at the WNBA All-Star Game. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier blasted the WNBA as having "the worst leadership" at the end of the 2025 season. However, Engelbert is still the commissioner of the WNBA through the latest CBA and hopes the league will be able to take it overseas, whether it’s a regular-season or exhibition game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.