Craig lost her Democratic primary bid for the Minnesota Senate seat to Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, making her a free agent heading into January.
Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) has publicly signaled her interest in replacing retiring WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who recently announced she would be stepping down from the role.
Craig made her interest known in a post on social platform X, writing: “Hey, @WNBA, I’m a free agent in January.”
Engelbert announced her retirement after seven seasons at the helm of the WNBA, a period that saw the league transform significantly in terms of size and public visibility.
The brief but pointed post quickly drew attention, given Craig’s well-known support for the Minnesota Lynx, her home state’s WNBA franchise.
Craig previously wagered with Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) over the outcome of the 2024 finals between the Lynx and the New York Liberty.
She ultimately declined to follow through on the bet, citing a controversial call during the game as her reason for withholding payment.
Under Engelbert’s leadership, the WNBA expanded from 12 teams to 15, with additional plans to grow to 18 teams by 2030 already in motion.
Recent seasons have smashed viewership and attendance records, reflecting a surge in public interest in women’s professional basketball across the country.
Engelbert’s tenure was not without controversy, however, particularly around discussions involving transgender athletes, an issue that has drawn significant attention from Republican lawmakers.
Engelbert described the matter as a complex and nuanced issue, stating in a memo that the league would continue discussions on the topic going forward.
Craig’s primary loss to Flanagan, widely viewed as a victory for progressives over moderates within the Democratic Party, now leaves her without a congressional seat and, apparently, looking for a new challenge.
