WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's public discourse on the definition of a "woman" has drawn scrutiny, with critics contrasting her current silence on the issue with her emphatic use of the term during her introductory press conference in 2019. At that time, Engelbert frequently highlighted "women's leadership," "women's advancement," and "women's initiatives," mentioning the word "woman" 33 times in the presser.
Engelbert, who began her tenure as commissioner in 2019, spoke extensively about her background and career, often framing it through the lens of being a woman in male-dominated fields. She recalled building a career by "working hard on our women’s advancement and women’s initiatives" and discussed her role at Deloitte, where she was the first female CEO in the firm's history. She also mentioned her involvement with Catalyst, an organization focused on women's leadership.
"I see tremendous opportunity to essentially bolster visibility for the sport, women’s basketball, around the player experience, the fan experience, fan engagement," Engelbert said in 2019. "For those that don’t know me, this role brings together kind of a perfect combination of my more than 30 years of business experience and my passion for the sport of basketball, and then really I’ve dedicated at least the last decade to women’s advancement."
More recently, amid discussions about transgender athletes in women's sports, Engelbert has adopted a different tone. In a memo to the league, she acknowledged the ongoing debate, stating, "We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead." This statement contrasts with her previous explicit focus on defining and advancing women within the sport's context.
The league has reportedly formed a task force to address questions surrounding the definition of a woman, a move that has not yet yielded a public conclusion. This silence and the formation of a task force have been met with criticism, particularly following recent events such as Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham's statements on protecting women's sports and the declarations for the 2027 WNBA Draft by former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White.