As Cathy Engelbert steps down after seven years as the WNBA’s Commissioner, despite a controversial ending, no one would forget the growth she brought. This also means that the next person, whoever it may be, would have big shoes to fill. Enter the case of one of the frontrunners – Nneka Ogwumike.

A great tell of how good a leader is is knowing how their peers treat them. You cannot find one reasonable WNBA player, owner, or executive who would say they don’t respect Ogwumike. In fact, she was a menace on the floor until this very season on a nightly basis, but was one of the best WNBPA presidents to lead the union. Her retirement only stirred the pot because who better a replacement for Engelbert than a person who has literally been part of the two biggest CBA negotiations in the league? Very recently, another social media activity by her raised more eyebrows.

“Tell them you don’t have plans of being the next league commissioner or I will – A,” Ogwumike captioned her latest Instagram reel with the text while adding, “Shhh” to wrap up the post.

While her 237k Instagram fans were wondering what her following the trend is about, she was stone-faced in the video, looking suspiciously innocent. Of course, she isn’t going to reveal it yet, even if she is a final candidate. She did, however, reveal what would be the first thing she would change.

Ogwumike’s first change as a Commissioner would be…

“So, I would say especially after coming off of these negotiations, like assuming we’re in the position to do it, create some type of pension plan. That’s probably the first thing,” Ogwumike told Matt Barnes on The Shop earlier. “We just got to like reimbursement up to a certain amount. Like it’s not great.

“And I don’t think people really understand that yes, we have history, but like it’s not that far off, you know, and we’re still living in a world that they built. And so to not be able to give back in a more meaningful way to me, maybe it’s because I was raised on a lot of those legends. Like it makes me feel a type of way.”

For now, she remains a frontrunner for the post and for a good reason.

Ogwumike’s candidacy as a WNBA Commissioner

Nneka Ogwumike entered the league as the first overall pick for the LA Sparks in 2012, and remained with the team for almost all of her WNBA journey, switching to the Seattle Storm for the 2024-25 season before ending her playing career with the Sparks in 2026. But more importantly, during this time, she also served as the WNBPA President, a role that revealed what she truly wanted to focus on.

If you’ve ever seen her in action, you must have noticed that she always kept her ego down to earth and her players in front. No one ever left having talked to Ogwumike like they didn’t deserve what they asked for. She also always made sure to listen to her players as the WNBPA President and get resolutions to their queries. This final fact would be the biggest difference between how some would see Engelbert’s finance-centric tenure. As much as her behavior spoke of her good skills, so did her work itself.

“I think that my journey through these 15 years has allowed me to understand that I am more than my stats,” Ogwumike told Rooks, “and still also holding onto the fact that what I was able to accomplish on the court opened the multiple identities that I do occupy for me to be able to make this decision with a full heart.”

Ever since she became the union President in 2016, she has negotiated the 2020 and 2026 CBA negotiations, both focused on player safety and improved salary frameworks. She has also experienced the league in a ‘bubble’ in Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving her expertise in handling various difficult situations. And then there were all the positives…

The league moved to charter travel, introduced the in-season Commissioner’s Cup competition, expanded to what will be 18 teams by 2030, and changed the schedule and number of games in the regular season and the playoffs. All that progress came under Ogwumike’s tenure, giving her enough exposure to help the current WNBA players but also solidify the future of the coming generations.

She brings with her over a decade of experience, and Ogwumike doesn’t seem opposed to the idea of being the league commissioner.

Nneka Ogwumike addresses the opportunity to become the WNBA Commissioner

Ogwumike was one of the first names suggested to replace Cathy Engelbert when she steps off the pedestal. And as it turns out, Ogwumike isn’t exactly opposed to the idea despite knowing the drawbacks that the position brings.

She mentioned that she would be open to the opportunity, despite acknowledging the drawbacks, per her comments on the Flagrant and Funny podcast with Cari Champion and Jemele Hill from September 10.

“I want to still be a part of the game. I think that I have a unique perspective that can hopefully shed some light on, whether it’s like advising or consultation,” Ogwumike said on the Flagrant and Funny podcast with Cari Champion and Jemele Hill from September 10. “Don’t feel like I’m qualified to be the commissioner. But that’s the level of accountability that you do have to have in order to step into certain type of leadership spaces.

“So I don’t close doors. Maybe later down the line if that’s an opportunity, sure.”

Earlier this year, Cathy Engelbert announced that she will be stepping down as the WNBA Commissioner at the end of the 2026 season. Engelbert has led the league through one of the most challenging times the W has seen, with an unprecedented surge in mainstream visibility, a new media rights era, rapid expansion of teams, and much more. Now, as she steps down, the question of WNBA leadership moving forward is paramount. And while Nneka Ogwumike has emerged as a frontrunner in the conversation, the other names in the race boast equally impressive resumes.

Who could be the next WNBA Commissioner if not Ogwumike?

The role brings a level of responsibility that not many would be ready to take. But here are the frontrunners for the post:

One of them is three-time WNBA champion Swin Cash. The former UConn star served as the vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA for years before she was promoted to senior vice president. She brings experience both as a player and as an executive, similar to Ogwumike. 

Another name in the conversation is Keia Clarke, the CEO of the New York Liberty for over six years now. It was under her guidance that the Liberty clinched their first-ever WNBA Championship in 2024 with Breanna Stewart at the helm of the team. Her extensive business knowledge and management strategy could be essential to the position of WNBA Commissioner. 

But the person who has been in the eyes of the fans most often is still Nneka Ogwumike.

She has earned 11 WNBA All-Star nominations and won both the MVP and the Championship in 2016. She was the anchor for the Sparks throughout her time with the team, leading them to their first championship since 2002. Meanwhile, Ogwumike’s retirement from the WNBA already raises questions about the President’s post in the union.

Who would stand up as the next WNBPA President?

Interestingly, only four women have become the union president in the last 27 years — Coquese Washington (1999-2001), Sonja Henning (2001-03), Tamika Catchings (2004-16), and Ogwumike (2016-present). It is not hard to see why.

The role, obviously, brings a mountain of tasks on its own, but more importantly, it tests just how you would treat everyone around you. Ogwumike successfully trod that path, making everyone feel heard and seen, a testament in itself. In fact, she went unopposed in June’s elections, whether it was because everyone respected her or because they did not want to hold the responsibility. Soon enough, they will have no other option.

For now, she remains at the helm until the next election at the end of this year, according to a source familiar with the situation told ESPN. At the same time, all WNBPA executive committee positions — aside from first vice president, which is Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier — are up for election. But who becomes the next President remains up in the air. However, this is a good time to enter the role when a new CBA is in place for the next several years by when the new person can learn about their roles further.

For now, two possibilities are Breanna Stewart and Brianna Turner. They were fighting alongside Ogwumike during the CBA meetings and were especially vocal during the in-person meetings in March. While those decisions remain anyone’s guess, Ogwumike’s latest post has also created a speculation bubble around her fans.

Fans post theories about Nneka Ogwumike’s Instagram post

When she announced her retirement to Taylor Rooks on Boardroom, Ogwumike revealed that while she would not close the door on becoming the WNBA Commissioner, she wanted a vacation. So fans were confused about what to make of the ambiguous Instagram post and have been speculating about the next step themselves.

“I kept saying everybody want Nneka to have the job, I wouldn’t retire to go right back to work. Lol,” one fan wrote under her post. While another added, “Who retires just to go right back work 🤷🏾‍♀️ She ain’t even posted no vacay photos yet. Let her rest✊🏾”

One fan even used Ogwumike’s own words to make their point.

“She already said No in the press conference 😂 directly referenced vacation.”

Another fan directly expressed their hopes that Ogwumike would return, but wanted her to get the rest she deserved.

“Definitely understandable. Wouldn’t wanna start my retirement being stressed out either. We’ll wait ☺️”

But one fan seemed to best sum up what the WNBA community was feeling about Nneka Ogwumike’s retirement and potential return as Commissioner. 

“Your peace is more important than this job. You’re meant for more and patience and time will reveal all. We love you and want to see you happy so do your thing girl! We support you. ❤️🔥”

As the speculation continues around whether Nneka Ogwumike will take over from Cathy Engelbert as WNBA Commissioner, there has been no confirmation about Ogwumike’s intentions for the future. For now, the WNBPA President seems to be taking a much-deserved hiatus from the sport.