Lehigh University Athletics
Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Cathy Engelbert
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 1986
Growth is a defining word of Engelbert’s life. She was a walk-on player at Lehigh basketball and soon became captain. She was the first female to lead a Big Four investment firm as CEO of Deloitte, where, over her tenure, revenue increased 30%. Today, she is the first-ever commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and, again, league-size, audience viewership, media rights, and revenue have reached, what she calls, “hypergrowth” levels.
A three-sport high school athlete and two-sport college athlete, Engelbert was recruited to Lehigh to play lacrosse. On that team, she racked up recognitions including First-Team All-East Coast Conference (Defense), two-time PAIAW Division All-Star, Brine/IWLCA Regional All-American, and USWLA All-American.
But her fame is her walk-on status to the women’s basketball team where she played for former Lehigh coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw. Englebert was named captain and led Lehigh to an East Coast Conference title in 1986.
Engelbert graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and went to work for Deloitte in New York City, rising through the ranks before being named the company's CEO in 2015. She retired in that role after 33 years with the firm.
That’s when she stepped into the role of WNBA Commissioner. Engelbert executed several player-first collective bargaining agreements which have more than tripled the pay of top players and provided an array of progressive benefits. She has built and socialized a new economic framework to drive league growth and stakeholder success as well as celebrated the league’s 25th and 30th anniversary years.
Englebert has made an array of lists: Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, Fast Company’s Most Productive People, Crain’s New York Business Most Powerful Women, Forbes’ 50 Over 50, Adweek’s 40 Women to Watch, and Working Mother's 50 Most Powerful Moms.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of McDonald’s Corporation, Royalty Pharma, and the USGA Executive Committee.
She came back to Bethlehem to deliver Lehigh's commencement address in 2018 and is a proud mother of two.
A three-sport high school athlete and two-sport college athlete, Engelbert was recruited to Lehigh to play lacrosse. On that team, she racked up recognitions including First-Team All-East Coast Conference (Defense), two-time PAIAW Division All-Star, Brine/IWLCA Regional All-American, and USWLA All-American.
But her fame is her walk-on status to the women’s basketball team where she played for former Lehigh coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw. Englebert was named captain and led Lehigh to an East Coast Conference title in 1986.
Engelbert graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and went to work for Deloitte in New York City, rising through the ranks before being named the company's CEO in 2015. She retired in that role after 33 years with the firm.
That’s when she stepped into the role of WNBA Commissioner. Engelbert executed several player-first collective bargaining agreements which have more than tripled the pay of top players and provided an array of progressive benefits. She has built and socialized a new economic framework to drive league growth and stakeholder success as well as celebrated the league’s 25th and 30th anniversary years.
Englebert has made an array of lists: Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, Fast Company’s Most Productive People, Crain’s New York Business Most Powerful Women, Forbes’ 50 Over 50, Adweek’s 40 Women to Watch, and Working Mother's 50 Most Powerful Moms.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of McDonald’s Corporation, Royalty Pharma, and the USGA Executive Committee.
She came back to Bethlehem to deliver Lehigh's commencement address in 2018 and is a proud mother of two.
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