Cathy Engelbert is leaving the WNBA much better than she found it, but it was definitely time to go

On Friday, it felt like the entire WNBA community let out a collective breath when WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that she will retire at the end of this calendar year.

Like most things Engelbert-related, the timing of the news was a bit awkward, coming on a Friday, less than an hour after the United States beat China in the World Cup in Berlin, taking the attention away from a phenomenal Caitlin Clark performance off the bench and Team USA's quest for a fifth straight World Cup gold.

But it was also a welcome announcement. It has been clear for some time that the best thing for both the WNBA and Engelbert herself was a split. Uncertainty about her future with the league hung in the air during every major moment in the WNBA calendar over the past year, from the 2025 WNBA Finals, to this year's draft and especially at WNBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, when tensions were so high between players and the front office that both parties had a virtual meeting the week of the All-Star break to attempt to clear the air.

By announcing this decision before the WNBA returns from FIBA break and the playoffs…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/