Top candidates to replace WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Cathy Engelbert's seven-year run as WNBA commissioner is coming to an end, and the league now faces one of the most important decisions in its history.

Under Engelbert, the league secured an 11-year, $3.1 billion media-rights deal, expanded from 12 teams to 15 and set plans to reach 18 franchises by 2030. She also helped negotiate landmark labor agreements and oversaw the league through the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement from Cathy Engelbert on Nneka Ogwumike's retirement announcement:

Her tenure was not without controversy, particularly with her relationships with players. The next commissioner will inherit a league more popular and valuable than ever while also facing questions about player safety, officiating and how to manage the WNBA's continued growth.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will ultimately have a major say in the decision, with the search expected to begin in September. Several names have already emerged as potential candidates.

If the WNBA wants someone who understands the league from both the player's and executive's perspectives, Cash may be the most compelling option. Cash spent 15 seasons in the WNBA, winning three championships and making four All-Star teams before eventually being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. She later spent six years in the New Orleans Pelicans front office, rising to senior vice president of basketball operations.

Cash also has experience as an investor in the WNBA, including involvement in the league's $75 million capital raise. She has since founded She's Got Time, a media and lifestyle company focused on women in sports.

The biggest selling point may be her credibility with players. The WNBA has never had a former player serve as its top executive, and Cash could bring a fresh perspective to the league office.

Donaphin would provide the most continuity. She has served as the WNBA's head of league operations since 2018 and has effectively operated as a second-in-command despite the league not having a formal deputy commissioner. She has frequently represented the league publicly and has been involved in its business and revenue initiatives.

Donaphin also spent two seasons as a player with the New York Liberty and played college basketball at Stanford before playing overseas. If the WNBA wants to avoid a major philosophical change while still putting a different face at the top, Donaphin could make plenty of sense.

Mensah is the president of Jordan Brand and has spent years working at the intersection of sports, business and global marketing. Her background could make her particularly attractive to a WNBA that is trying to turn its recent popularity into a long-term global business.

The next commissioner will have to manage relationships with players and owners while continuing to build the league's commercial footprint. A candidate with Mensah's experience in one of the world's biggest sports brands could provide a strong business perspective.

The question is whether the league would prefer someone with direct WNBA experience over an executive who brings a broader corporate background.

Smith has already demonstrated what she can do at the team level. She became the inaugural president of the Golden State Valkyries and helped oversee the expansion franchise's rapid rise. The Valkyries became the first WNBA franchise to reach a $1 billion valuation, and Smith was named the league's Executive of the Year after the team's inaugural season.

Her background also extends beyond basketball, including work with Angel City FC in the NWSL. Smith may be a little early in her career for the commissioner position, but her success with the Valkyries makes her a name worth watching. If the league wants an executive who has recently demonstrated how to build a women's sports organization from the ground up, Smith has a strong case.

The 11-time All-Star and former WNBA MVP is retiring after the 2026 season and has spent years as president of the WNBPA. She played a major role in negotiations over two collective bargaining agreements, giving her an unusually deep understanding of the relationship between players and league ownership.

From the source EXCLUSIVE: @nnekaogwumike is calling it a career after this season.

Ogwumike has already indicated that she does not believe she is ready to become commissioner immediately. She has said she would need to learn more about the role and jokingly noted that she is more interested in taking a vacation first. That makes Ogwumike more of a potential future commissioner than an immediate replacement for Engelbert.