Stephen A. Smith didn't hold back about the pros and cons about Cathy Engelbert's career after he found out about her announcement to retire from the position of WNBA Commissioner following the end of the 2026 season.
Engelbert, who turns 62 in November, told The ***** ociated Press on Friday that she has been thinking about retiring for months.
"When I first came to the league I intended to do this for 3 1/2 years," she said in a phone interview. "The 7 1/2 years exceeded that time. This is a really good time given the financial transformation journey we've been on. Getting the collective bargaining agreement done, getting a long-term media rights deal done, getting expansion done."
Smith made his usual appearance on ESPN's First Take show on Friday. He reacted to the news about Engelbert, being glad the news came as the WNBA transitions to a new era of leadership when Engelbert retires in the coming months.
"About time. Took her long enough. They've been wanting her gone. Wishing nothing but the best, she helped negotiate the latest collective bargaining agreement. Kudos to her. But as Napheesa Collier said last year, she questioned the leadership, accused them of being negligent, said they had the worst leadership in the world, and she had the support of a vast majority of the players," Smith said.
#engelbert
Engelbert, who turns 62 in November, told The ***** ociated Press on Friday that she has been thinking about retiring for months.
"When I first came to the league I intended to do this for 3 1/2 years," she said in a phone interview. "The 7 1/2 years exceeded that time. This is a really good time given the financial transformation journey we've been on. Getting the collective bargaining agreement done, getting a long-term media rights deal done, getting expansion done."
Smith made his usual appearance on ESPN's First Take show on Friday. He reacted to the news about Engelbert, being glad the news came as the WNBA transitions to a new era of leadership when Engelbert retires in the coming months.
"About time. Took her long enough. They've been wanting her gone. Wishing nothing but the best, she helped negotiate the latest collective bargaining agreement. Kudos to her. But as Napheesa Collier said last year, she questioned the leadership, accused them of being negligent, said they had the worst leadership in the world, and she had the support of a vast majority of the players," Smith said.
#engelbert
2 months ago
