WNBA says commissioner Cathy Engelbert is sticking around

Pocketful of sunshine.

WNBA denies commissioner Engelbert resignation reports

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is sticking around, with the WNBA vehemently denying Tuesday’s Sports Business Journal report that Engelbert would likely resign as soon as CBA negotiations were settled.

• The report characterized Engelbert’s issues as relationship-driven, established long before Lynx star Napheesa Collier went viral for publicly criticizing league leadership earlier this week.

• “She hasn’t connected; she’s not a relationship builder, which you have to be in that job with the teams, with the players,” said an anonymous SBJ source.

• In response, a WNBA spokesperson said the claims were “categorically false,” with Engelbert remaining unavailable for comment.

Tensions rise: Collier’s interview spotlighted the league’s refusal to deal with faulty officiating, among other concerns, calling the front office “the worst leadership in the world” as stalled CBA negotiations near their October 31st deadline.

• “Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders,” Collier read from Tuesday’s prepared statement. “They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging them to fix. That is negligence.”

Bottom line: With Engelbert’s reputation reaching a new low, the path to a new CBA appears as treacherous as ever — especially as other big-name players continue to voice support for the five-time All-Star.

WNBA signs blockbuster new media deal

The WNBA is coming to USA Network, as the league finalized a new 11-year media deal with NBC Universal sub-conglomerate Versant this week to expand national coverage ahead of the 2026 season.

• USA Network will air at least 50 games per season, as the league’s schedule continues to expand in the wake of incoming expansion teams.

• Featured programming includes “marquee Wednesday night doubleheaders” as well as shared rights to the WNBA finals, with the channel providing its own pre- and post-game programming.

Cashing in: The new agreement builds on the league’s landmark 2024 media rights deal, though the additional value was not disclosed.

• The original 11-year agreement came in at $2.2 billion, with the WNBA’s TV ratings increasing exponentially year-over-year.

• “As demand for women’s basketball continues to rise, partnerships like this expand the visibility and accessibility of our game,” said commissioner Cathy Engelbert in Tuesday’s press release.

Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell posts injury update after Game 5 exit

Indiana star Kelsey Mitchell appears to be in the clear, with the Fever guard posting an injury update after being carried off the court in the third quarter of Tuesday’s Game 5 semifinal in Las Vegas.

• Originally reported as extreme lower-body cramping, Mitchell wrote that she was discharged from the hospital after being treated for a rare muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis.

• “I went into sense of numbness/paralyzing feeling with no movement from my lower extremities for up to 5 to 7 seconds,” she said. “It was an out of body experience for me and I thank God for covering me at a time like that.”

Big picture: Often brought on by overexertion, rhabdomyolysis involves muscles breaking down and releasing harmful proteins into the bloodstream, potentially leading to serious organ damage.

• “My body locked up from a physical standpoint and from there fatigue and cramping settled in,” Mitchell explained, relaying that she is expected to make a full recovery.

• “i played literally til my wheels fell off,” she added. “THANK you for the prayers, love, respect, and support throughout all of this.”

Coco Gauff continues back-to-back China Open title quest

World No. 3 Coco Gauff is through to the semis in Beijing, downing Germany’s Eva Lys in straight sets to continue her title defense at the 2025 China Open — and make her first semifinal appearance since June’s French Open win.

• The 21-year-old overcame several obstacles — including Tuesday’s heated three-set Round of 16 battle with No. 16 Belinda Bencic — in her quest to become the women’s event’s first-ever back-to-back winner.

• Not all top-ranked WTA stars were so lucky, as No. 2 Iga Świątek exited the Round of 16 after ceding a final-set bagel to No. 17 Emma Navarro.

Big picture: Gauff also secured a spot at this year’s WTA Finals, returning as the tournament’s reigning champion while also becoming the youngest player to qualify for the event in four straight years since Maria Sharapova in 2007.

• Considered the most prestigious event after the four Grand Slams, this year’s WTA Finals kick off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 1st, with Świątek and No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also taking part.

Tune in: Gauff next faces fellow US ace No. 4 Amanda Anisimova in Friday’s China Open semifinal, live on the Tennis Channel.

Club owners sue ex-San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis

Former Wave president Jill Ellis is back in the headlines, with the San Diego NWSL club’s owners suing Ellis for allegedly promising to stay on after the team’s 2024 sale — only to take a new job as FIFA’s Chief Football Officer days later.

• According to the paperwork, the Levine Leichtman Family Office was interested in the Wave due to Ellis’s involvement, purchasing the team for a then-record $120 million before Ellis told the family she had “no intention of continuing any involvement with Wave FC” two days after closing.

• The suit asks for damages to be determined at trial, estimating at least $40 million in lost revenue following Ellis’s departure.

Ellis fires back: Ellis’s attorney called the suit “meritless,” linking it to the former USWNT manager’s pursuit of $1 million in deferred payments guaranteed by her original contract.

• The team is staying out of it, releasing a statement saying, “This is a legal matter between the Levine Leichtman Family Office and Jill Ellis. San Diego Wave FC is not a party to this lawsuit.”

PWHL drops 2025/26 regular-season schedule

The PWHL’s 2025/26 season schedule has arrived, with the pro hockey league set to drop the puck on its third season on November 21st.

• The opening night doubleheader features the first-ever game between incoming expansion sides Seattle and Vancouver after reigning champs Minnesota take on Toronto. (See full schedule)

Moving on up: The expanded 2025/26 lineup spans 120 total games — the most in league history — with teams set to tackle 30 matchups each before April 25th’s finale.

• The season also includes a leaguewide pause from January 29th to February 25th to allow for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with more than 50 PWHL players expected to hit the ice in Italy.

Quote of the day

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark
responding to Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier putting WNBA leadership on blast this week.