WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert encountered hostile treatment during a championship ceremony as the Valkyries secured their first WNBA title, according to a report from EssentiallySports. The article, authored by Akshat Rajput and dated November 1, 2026, highlights Engelbert's appearance at the title event where she was met with a negative reception.
The report also references Engelbert's earlier remarks at a news conference in Toronto on May 23, 2024, where she announced the city's new WNBA franchise. That event marked the official unveiling of Toronto's entry into the league, which later became known as the Toronto Tempo.
The Valkyries, an expansion team based in Golden State, are slated to begin play in the 2025 season. The article's claim that they have already captured a championship appears to reference a future or hypothetical scenario, as the team had not yet debuted at the time of the Toronto announcement.
