Leadership can look secure from the outside even as the ground quietly shifts underneath it, and that seems to be exactly where WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert finds herself right now.

WNBA analyst Rachel Annamarie DeMita raised questions about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's position during a discussion on her YouTube channel.

"On Friday night, Cathy Engelbert did get some boos in the arena. And it does seem like we heard all the quotes, like the quote from A'ja Wilson saying that she really doesn't have a relationship with Cathy Engelbert. And so, it does seem like Cathy Engelbert's days are numbered," Rachel DeMita, a sports analyst, said on her YouTube channel.

Rachel DeMita, a WNBA analyst, made this observation on her YouTube channel, pointing to a genuinely loud reaction from fans that backed up her point.

The largest number of people to ever attend the United Center, 19,783, booed Engelbert when she handed the All-Star MVP Trophy to Jonquel Jones on July 25, 2026, in a way reminiscent of the booing that she got at the Commissioner's Cup in Brooklyn.

This booing relates directly to the growing rift between Engelbert and the stars in the league.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark highlighted that gap herself while praising her relationship with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver instead.

"Me and Adam have a great relationship. I know he was here tonight supporting us," Clark said. "Communication and relationships solve a lot of issues and a lot of problems. Cathy has also brought a lot to this league and helped us reach new milestones."

Clark's comment stood out, given she made no similar mention of Engelbert, whose contract expires this year and who has reportedly avoided direct questions about her plans for 2027.

Engelbert's tenure has included a 3.1 billion dollar media rights deal and league expansion into Golden State, Toronto and Portland, achievements that now sit alongside mounting criticism over officiating, transparency and player safety heading into an uncertain offseason.

That silence around her own future says something too, especially when Engelbert was given a direct chance to clear it up.

Cathy Engelbert Dodges Question About Her Future as Commissioner

Engelbert was asked directly on Saturday whether she expects to remain commissioner at the start of next season. She never answered yes or no.

"I am so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hyper-growth period. I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy, because it has been working." Engelbert said.

The question was asked during her press conference that takes place annually in midseason in Chicago, just before the All-Star Game.

Engelbert has been commissioner since 2019 and joins the league from Deloitte, where she was CEO of its U.S. operations.

Engelbert also addressed her relationship with players following the league's collective bargaining agreement, saying both sides remain in a good place overall.

She acknowledged communication with players could improve across the board, admitting that differing preferred methods of communication have created a disconnect at times.

Comment down if you think Cathy Engelbert should still be WNBA commissioner next season.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta