WNBA fans are keeping an eye out on the next potential commissioner.
Cathy Engelbert recently announced she’s stepping down as WNBA Commissioner at the end of 2026, wrapping up a wild seven-year run. She oversaw plenty of growth, but her exit follows relentless heat over player safety, tense labor talks, and her handling of sensitive cultural debates.
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If the league looks to its past for executive inspiration, Donna Orender provides an interesting model. Orender is a former pro point guard in the pioneer WBL and served as WNBA President from 2005 to 2010 after 17 years at the PGA Tour.
She stabilized the league during the late-2000s recession, steadily growing digital engagement and TV viewership before launching her women’s empowerment platform, Generation W.
Donna Orender is no longer the commissioner of the Upshot League
Mitchell Northam of USA Today shared the news that Donna Orender is no longer the commissioner of the Upshot League.
Instead, Taj McWilliams-Franklin has been elevated to Deputy Commissioner and Former NBA player Dee Brown is the new VP of Basketball Operations.
The UpShot League is a women’s professional developmental basketball league launched by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment to bridge the gap between college hoops and the pros. With only 144 roster spots in the WNBA, hundreds of players get left without a home every year, so UpShot was built to give them a platform to develop, get paid, and stay on scouts’ radars.
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Orender serves as the co-founder and was the commissioner prior to the announcement.
However, fans on X think there could be a reason behind her resignation.
One fan posted the eye emojis.
“Hell naw,” This fan appeared worried about the prospect.
This supporter added: “The timing is *interesting*”
“Whoa!!” Another fan said.
Another speculative supporter said: “Hmmmm.”
However, there have been no concrete links between Orender and the commissioner role currently.
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