Amid the most successful season in the WNBA’s 30-year history, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Friday that she’ll retire at the end of 2026.Engelbert was named as the league’s first commissioner in 2019, overseeing an era of immense growth both financially and structurally. Her legacy, however, is complicated. Though Engelbert led a transformative capital raise, inked an 11-year, $3.1 billion television deal and grew the league from 12 teams to 18 by 2030, she regularly drew criticisms — sometimes, very publicly — from the players.Repairing the relationship between the league office and the players’ association will be a key priority for the next commissioner. The hire must also continue to capitalize on the WNBA’s meteoric growth, especially as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympics, where Team USA will be going for its ninth consecutive gold medal.In its 30-year history, the league has had only female presidents and commissioners (outside of interim presidents and commissioners), so it seems unlikely the WNBA would change course now. (The WNBA commissioner reports to NBA commissioner Adam Silver because of the league’s structure.) Previous leaders have come from executive roles at well-known companies and organizations, including Deloitte (Engelbert), Coca-Cola (Lisa Borders), the Girl Scouts (Laurel Richie), the PGA Tour (Donna Orender) and the NBA (Val Ackerman, the league’s first president).Here are the candidates we’re keeping an eye on as the league makes this paramount decision:Top candidatesSwin CashFormer WNBA All-Star / She’s Got Time CEOCash’s name has long circulated around the league, even before Engelbert’s announcement, as someone who could fill the role of commissioner well.Given the need for the next commissioner to repair relationships between the player body and management, having a former three-time WNBA champion and four-time WNBA All-Star in that role could go a long way, especially with WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike retiring.Cash spent six years as the New Orleans Pelicans’ SVP of basketball operations in the NBA, serving an executive role that handles everything from strategic planning to financial management. She left in 2025 during a restructuring and subsequently founded She’s Got Time, a media and lifestyle company that connects women in sports.Bethany DonaphinHead of WNBA league operationsAs rumors swirled about Engelbert’s enture, insiders around the league have been mentioning Donaphin as a potential replacement.In a league that doesn’t have a deputy commissioner, Donaphin has functionally served as a second-in-command, often making appearances in place of Engelbert. Donaphin has worked with the NBA and WNBA for the last decade, more than eight of those years coming on the WNBA side, giving her the proper perspective to handle the business and narratives surrounding the league.