Executives from the WNBA, NBA and Nike are among potential candidates to succeed Cathy Engelbert when she retires.

Engelbert said she believes that the next leader needs to be more comfortable with being more front-facing and have a high understanding of how to keep a successful business stable.

This past Friday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced her intentions to retire at the end of the 2026 calendar year.

With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, far-right podcaster and writer Matt Walsh expressed interest in being the next WNBA commissioner. “I know it’s a longshot, but I keep hearing rumors about you potentially becoming the commissioner of the WNBA,” far-right influencer Benny Johnson told Walsh, who appeared on his podcast Tuesday.

Following seven successful years, Cathy Engelbert has informed the league of her decision to retire, effective at the end of 2026.

With WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about to exit, the league and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will try to right her wrongs and find a replacement who can bring the league together -- a person who can heal as much as make deals.

Cathy Engelbert announced her retirement last week and will end her seven-year tenure as the league’s first commissioner in December. Her tenure brought some major financial wins for the WNBA, but it also came with plenty of questions about her leadership along the way.

Current WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert revealed last week that this season would be her last before heading into retirement. She intends to remain in her position until the end of the calendar year in December 2026.