WNBA thrived despite Cathy Engelbert. She won’t be missed | Opinion

The most damning judgment of Cathy Engelbert’s legacy as WNBA commissioner is that the league is thriving in spite of her, rather than because of her.

Engelbert had the good fortune to be commissioner at a time when interest in women’s sports is exploding and Caitlin Clark has captivated the country. Instead of moving heaven and earth to capitalize on that, Engelbert alienated her players, dragged her feet on league expansion and charter flights, and was largely silent when internet trolls and bad actors spewed racism and hate and tried to make a mockery of the league.

She has been unable to meet the moment she was gifted, and she will not be missed.

“I retire knowing we have built something bigger, stronger and more enduring than we could have imagined,” Engelbert said in the Friday, Sept. 4, statement announcing her retirement at the end of the season.

“I am grateful to the WNBA and NBA team owners and staff, players, investors, fans and the powerhouse league office staff, who believed in what this league could become," she added. "I retire with immense gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future of the WNBA, with the best yet to come."

There…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/