Bill Simmons Calls for WNBA to Replace Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Overview

• On Monday, Bill Simmons used his Ringer podcast to say he expects Engelbert will not be commissioner next year and to call for new leadership for the WNBA.
• Simmons specifically criticized the league’s failure to promote marketable players and storylines, naming rookies and stars such as Olivia Miles, Naphessa Collier, and A’ja Wilson as missed opportunities.
• Coverage linked the latest surge of attention to a hard foul by DiJonai Carrington on Sophie Cunningham, whose recent comments about transgender athletes have inflamed online backlash and media coverage.
• Engelbert remains in office even as reports say her contract expires later this year and the league and players’ union have taken incremental steps to improve player safety and platform reporting after a mid‑season spike in threats.
• The public call from a high‑profile media figure increases pressure on league governance and raises the stakes for the pending contract decision, with observers saying the league must boost star promotion and better manage social‑media abuse to sustain growth.