Cathy Engelbert takes awkward jab at reporter during 2026 WNBA Draft

The 2026 WNBA Draft featured many memorable moments as college basketball stars make the leap to the professional level, but commissioner Cathy Engelbert stole the show for the wrong reasons.

Engelbert became the league’s first commissioner back in 2019, and has held the position ever since. However, Monday night’s draft marked the first major occasion for the WNBA since finalizing its new CBA.

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The 61-year-old Engelbert took attention away from the WNBA Draft and top players like Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts. Specifically, an awkward encounter between Engelbert and a reporter sparked a viral moment that the WNBA commissioner likely wishes wasn’t caught on camera.

“I wonder whether you would ask that of a man." 👀

Cathy Engelbert’s response to the question of how much longer she anticipates being the WNBA’s commissioner 😳 pic.twitter.com/7FZ3Yxgq7w

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 13, 2026

“I do crack up how everybody’s focused on me, and you should be focused on the hundreds of amazing women and thousands of women who run this league outside of myself,” Engelbert said, via USA Today.

“… I wonder if you would ask that of a man, by the way, but I realize as women we get asked different questions than men do.”

The only problem with Engelbert’s comment is that man in her position constantly receive the same questions. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell famously gets ovations of boos during the NFL Draft and other major appearances.

Meanwhile, NBA and NHL commissioners Adam Silver and Gary Bettman regularly see themselves in similar positions.

Engelbert upstages WNBA Draft with awkward comments

However, Engelbert’s night escalated in a negative way after she went after WNBA players when discussing the CBA negotiations.

The commissioner made an ill-timed joke about how players were keen on having housing for the season. The comment didn’t sit well with anyone in attendance after equated the situation to her own kids.

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“I just assumed having two children in their 20s that you know would pay for their own housing,” Engelbert remarked.

Last year, ESPN blurred Engelbert during the WNBA Finals after fans were shown flipping the middle finger at the commissioner.

It’s clear that the tradition of disliking commissioners has carried over into other leagues beyond MLB, NBA, NFL and more. However, Engelbert is at an important crossroads in her tenure considering the recent surge of visibility for the WNBA.