The knives are out for WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, and it seems like everyone is coming out of the woodwork to share their disappointing or embarrassing story about her.<\/p>\n
Already seen as a combative force against players in the women\u2019s basketball league\u2019s era of exponential financial and ratings growth, Engelbert was criticized by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier in a stunning press conference<\/a> that called into question the commissioner\u2019s judgment and leadership. In the wake of that, several similar discussions have also occurred, as well as a report indicating that Engelbert was likely to leave once the current CBA negotiations were completed<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, even ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith, a renowned champion of women\u2019s sports<\/a>, was calling for Engelbert to step down<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before that, Stacey Dales, a senior reporter for the NFL Network and a former WNBA All-Star, shared her own Engelbert story, which seemed to reflect what we\u2019d heard from many other current and former players.<\/p>\n I hosted a prominent WNBA event a couple of years ago. Welcome to the league, Toronto. The Toronto team intro \u2014 it was exceptional. The TO people were amazing. I did it for free.<\/p>\n I never once heard from Cathy or the WNBA or league in general. Nothing. Not a single bump on their\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI hosted a prominent WNBA event a couple of years ago. \u2018Welcome to the league, Toronto,’\u201d\u00a0Dales wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cThe Toronto team intro \u2014 it was exceptional. The TO people were amazing. I did it for free. I never once heard from Cathy or the WNBA or league in general. Nothing. Not a single bump on their social media. Frankly, it seemed like she didn\u2019t know I played for the league at all. I walked away wondering if she even knew me. I have never heard from the league since I left the game.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe NFL treats me so kindly. Not like this,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Engelbert became the commissioner of the WNBA in July 2019, following her four-year stint as the CEO of Deloitte.<\/p>\n Dales, who joined NFL Network in 2009 as a host and reporter following her WNBA career, also shared her thoughts on Collier\u2019s press conference, saying it was an<\/a> \u201cincredibly profound, powerful, and detailed statement from one of the league\u2019s premier athletes and class all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \t