NEW YORK The boos were deafening.WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was at center court inside Barclays Center. The New York Liberty had just beaten the Las Vegas Aces in the in-season tournament named after her job title, and as she took the mic to congratulate the team and announce the MVP, her voice was drowned out almost entirely.It wasnt the first time Engelbert was greeted with this level of public disdain. Over the last 12 months, the reception Engelbert has received has grown increasingly hostile, dating back to last years All-Star game in Indianapolis, when fans chanted pay them as she attempted to deliver her post-game speech. She was heckled again during the 2025 WNBA Finals trophy ceremony.Since becoming commissioner in 2019, Engelbert has led the WNBA into its most successful era. She brokered two transformational collective bargaining agreements, guided the league through an unprecedented pandemic season in 2020, and helped facilitate the sale of the Atlanta Dream from an owner, Kelly Loeffler, who opposed the leagues public support for the Black Lives Matter movement.The growth of the league has been astronomical a new media rights deal valued at $2.2 billion at the time has grown to $3 billion, according to reports. The league has expanded to 15 teams and will reach 18 by 2030, with expansion fees that have lined the pockets of the existing owners. Record-breaking viewership and attendance have led to historic revenue targets.On paper, Engelbert is the most successful leader in the WNBAs 30-year history. Yet, as the WNBA descends upon Chicago for All-Star weekend, Engelbert is reaching an inflection point in her tenure.While theres seemingly no shortage of players and other team employees willing to complain publicly about day-to-day decision-making within the league, Engelberts overall job security remains too hot for most to handle. While The Athletic spoke to a dozen sources around the league for this story, almost all refused to comment for publication, even anonymously. What they did do was provide a holistic view of the situation that Engelbert and the WNBA now finds itself in.If were going to make a move we should make a move, said one high-ranking team official, speaking anonymously to protect existing relationships. If not, we need some leadership.NBA commissioner Adam Silver appointed Engelbert in 2019, giving her the commissioner title no previous WNBA permanent leader had possessed. It was a testament to her CV, highlighted by a stint as the CEO of Deloitte, a multinational business consulting firm.But the WNBAs board of governors lack of involvement regarding Engelberts hiring has led to the question of who, exactly, she reports to. Throughout her tenure, there have been moments that point to Silvers explicit involvement in business decisions, a number of them occurring in the last year.During NBA All-Star weekend earlier this year, Silver acknowledged that while he hadnt been at the bargaining table in the contentious WNBA CBA negotiations, he was playing a role behind the scenes. More recently, he was reportedly involved in the disciplinary process of Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas after a now-infamous play involving her and Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Asked at CNBCs Game Plan Summit if he encouraged Engelbert to suspend Thomas, Silver sidestepped the question. Im not going to comment on that, because I dont think its fair to Caitlin and to Cathy Engelbert either. Thats not the real issue here.At least twice in the past five months, Silver was asked about Engelberts job performance. Both times he praised the work shes done but was noncommittal about her future. Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league and well have ongoing discussions about (her future), Silver said earlier this month.One of the biggest pain points that has come up among sources around the league is Engelberts communication style. People have expressed reservations about her interpersonal dynamics. The WNBAs biggest stakeholders, the players, have reinforced those opinions.The WNBA is widely considered a player-driven league. Athletes in this league consistently speak out against everything from poor operational standards within certain organizations to leaderships missteps. There is arguably no greater example of the players power than in 2020 when members of the Atlanta Dream wore T-shirts endorsing then-Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock who at the time was running against Loeffler. In the final days of his campaign, Warnock shared a video to social media encouraging people to get out and vote, featuring several WNBA stars including three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi and WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams.WNBA players power over the league itself is illustrated regularly by the fans themselves, who routinely demonstrate they put players before the team on social media and in their public response to everything from league business to roster construction. In New York, for example, fans led a raucous We want Laney chant in support of Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who has seen her role significantly limited this season.In recent years, Engelberts communication style has been criticized and magnified by these players who arent afraid to air their grievances publicly.While many players say theyve never had a relationship with Engelbert, the level of strain went mainstream last year when one of the leagues biggest stars, Napheesa Collier, called out Engelbert during her exit interview. In addition to saying the WNBA has the worst leadership in the world, Collier aired a private conversation she had with Engelbert at Unrivaled in 2025. She claimed Engelbert told her only losers complain about the refs. When Collier asked about the WNBAs young stars who were driving revenue, she said Engelbert responded by saying Clark should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldnt make anything.Engelbert later denied having made those comments, but the damage was already done.Players around the league, past and present, sided with Collier. Three-time WNBA Champion Candace Parker said she got a text from Silver congratulating her on the birth of her third child and that she receives a Christmas gift every year from him. In addition, she said when she retired, Silver congratulated her on her Hall of Fame career.She never heard from Engelbert.This points to another area of lapse from Engelbert: her efforts to bridge the past to the present. She was noticeably absent from the WNBAs 30th anniversary game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty on June 21, choosing instead to be at the final round of the U.S. Open (she sits on the USGAs executive board). She was also absent from the 2026 Womens Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which included Parker, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, WNBA champion Elena Delle Donne and Isabelle Fijalkowski, a member of the Cleveland Rockers during the WNBAs first season.Arguably the biggest feather in Engelberts commissioner cap is the fact she presided over the negotiations that gave way to the leagues first million-dollar player contract, and did so without losing a single game. The 17-month-long process, which culminated with eight marathon bargaining sessions, points to the fact that Engelbert and the WNBA owners she speaks for were not easily sold on the idea of paying players seven-figure salaries. But despite her contributions to getting players richer salaries than theyve ever seen in the WNBA, her relationships with them have appeared to only marginally improve.WNBPA vice president and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said since the CBA was completed, there is mutual respect, but there isnt much of a personal relationship. Stewarts Liberty teammate, Sabrina Ionescu, said she doesnt have a relationship with Engelbert, but speaks to Silver often.That strained relationship was spotlighted this week when Ionescu said she was never officially invited to participate in the WNBAs 3-point contest. Lynx guard Kayla McBride also called out the league for what she believed to be a half-hearted attempt to get her to participate.Continuing to show up, build good relationships with players, have good open communication line, Ionescu said when asked what shed like to see from Engelbert moving forward. Theres always more that can be done from both sides. Its never going to be pretty all the time, but I definitely think building relationships, having better relationships with multiple players who have been part of this league is definitely something that can always improve.While such decisions have cost her in the court of public opinion, it remains unclear to what degree it has influenced her standing with those she ultimately reports to, including the NBA. When Silver appointed Engelbert over seven years ago, he said, Cathy is a world-class business leader with a deep connection to womens basketball, which makes her the ideal person to lead the WNBA into its next phase of growth.This was roughly five months after Silver told the Associated Press the league was losing an average of $10 million every year weve operated. His emphasis on the WNBAs bottom line has become more apparent over the course of her tenure.In 2022, Engelbert made what was outwardly viewed at the time as a stabilizing business decision when she led a capital raise that resulted in a 16 percent stake in the league selling for $75 million to a group of investors that includes several WNBA owners, Nike, Swin Cash and Pau Gasol. That sale made the WNBAs ownership structure more convoluted with 42 percent of the league belonging to NBA owners, another 42 percent to WNBA owners and 16 percent to the investors but was viewed as necessary and a win at the time.The $75 million was said to be deployed for brand elevation, marketing and the globalization of the league according to the WNBAs release at the time. But in the years since, this business decision has come under heavy scrutiny because of the rapid rise in team valuations. The possibility of buying the equity back has been discussed by the leagues Board of Governors, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the leagues business. But doing so would cost multiples of the original sale price.By 2030, the WNBA will welcome three new teams, all of which will operate under dual NBA/WNBA ownership. Including the expansion Golden State Valkyries, the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta and Mark Walters purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers, the WNBA will have 11 teams operating under a dual ownership structure. The first-year Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo also share ownership ties with the NBA. The WNBAs ownership structure conflates the separation of the two leagues commissioners, begging the question of whether the current governance structure clips the wings of Engelbert or any person who could potentially replace her.No commissioner will truly succeed until the role and governance changes, the same high-ranking team official said.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

After Pecsi: Another goalkeeper is close to leaving Liverpool amid interest from multiple clubsLiverpool academy goalkeeper Kornel Misciur is reportedly closing in on a loan exit from Anfield for the 2026/27 season.His fellow netminder Armin Pecsi has already departed Merseyside for the upcoming campaign, completing a season-long loan to TSV Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONAPPLE&GOOGLE PLAYThe Polish stopper who isnt involved with the Reds squad for the pre-season tour to the United States could now be about to follow the Hungarian out the door and make a temporary exit from L4.Misciur close to agreeing loan exit from LiverpoolLiverpool Echo reporter Ian Doyle penned an article compiling the confirmed ins and outs at Anfield so far this summer, along with prospective incomings and outgoings before the transfer window shuts on 1 September.The journalist wrote that Misciur is close to agreeing a loan move away from the Reds, with a number of non-league clubs having registered an interest.(Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trustMisciur needs a move elsewhere to gain first-team experienceThe 19-year-old has yet to make his senior debut for Liverpool, but he was incuded in the Champions League squad last season and sat on the bench for six games in the tournament, including both legs of the quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain (Transfermarkt).LFC academy reporter Lewis Bower whos watched him in action on numerous occasions has said (via X) that he rates the goalkeeper very highly and has described him as very talented, although most of his game-time in 2025/26 came for the under-18 side rather than the under-21s.With the Reds third-choice senior netminder Freddie Woodman signing a new contract on Thursday, there seems little prospect of Misciur getting first-team minutes any time soon, so a loan move would appear to be the ideal step for his development.The Polish stopper should benefit greatly from obtaining senior experience at a club elsewhere, even if its to the National League, as itd expose him to an environment where theres a competitive edge to win every week and hed be coming up against adult players whove been around the block.Its unclear as of yet which team might secure his services, but hopefully its one where hell play on a weekly basis and gain invaluable experience before returning to Liverpool with a greater readiness to push for first-team squad inclusion.

According to WiseGuy Reports, the 3-Chloropropiophenone Market was valued at USD 400 million in 2024 and remained at USD 400 million in 2025. The market is forecast to reach USD 800 million by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. Growth is supported by increasing pharmaceutical production, expanding agricultural chemical applications, rising demand for specialty...

As the VoLTE technology market evolves, several key industry trends are emerging that signify a transformative phase ahead. Projected to reach an extraordinary market size of USD 550.51 million by 2035, the sector is exhibiting a remarkable CAGR of 48.06%. This growth is underlined by the escalating demand for high-quality voice services, especially in North America, which currently leads the...

Sobha Limited is known for its focus on detail and superior engineering across major Indian cities. The developer uses backward integration, which means they manage design, metalwork, and finishing in-house. This approach maintains strict standards and removes common delays seen in typical home building projects. When you pick a brand-new home, you invest in long-term safety and...

According to a new report from Intel Market Research, the global Nail Clippers market was valued at USD 465 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 663 million by 2032, growing at a steady CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period (2025–2032). This consistent growth is driven by rising global emphasis on personal grooming, increasing disposable income, and the essential hygiene nature...

The global Wafer Backside Grinding Service Market is witnessing rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for advanced semiconductor packaging, miniaturized electronic devices, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G technologies, and next-generation integrated circuits. The market is expected to expand significantly during the forecast period 2026–2034, supported by...

Hashimoto’s Disease Market According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the Hashimoto’s Disease Market  Hashimoto’s Disease Market was valued at USD 1.08 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1.42 billion by 2032 During the forecast period of 2025 to 2032 the market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 3.50%, primarily driven by...

The Home Hydroponics Market is experiencing rapid growth as consumers increasingly embrace indoor gardening, sustainable food production, and smart home cultivation systems. The global home hydroponics market size is witnessing a surge in adoption, driven by increasing urbanization, interest in sustainable living, and technological advancements in indoor gardening....

The Household Humidifier Market is witnessing steady growth as consumers increasingly prioritize healthier indoor environments and improved air quality. Growing concerns over respiratory health, seasonal allergies, dry indoor air, and rising pollution levels are encouraging the adoption of household humidifiers across residential settings. Technological advancements such as smart...