Sophie Cunningham is known for speaking her mind about topics many other WNBA players avoid. The latest subject of her unfiltered thoughts seemed to involve embattled WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
In an interview with USA Today, the Indiana Fever guard suggested that a change in leadership might benefit the league amid its record viewership this season. She recognized that Engelbert has a dificult job but believes that it needs to be held by someone who is “bold, confident and wants the best for the players and not maybe for themselves.” She also added that the decision would be left to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“You do have to have a person in power who is bold, who is confident, who wants the best for the players and not maybe for themselves all the time. So I do feel like, as a whole, that could be a position that’s maybe open at the end of the year, but that’s not my call,” Cunningham said.
“(Engelbert‘s) done a lot of good things, but with where our league is trying to go, I feel like you just want someone who also wants that. That’s just a hard position to be in, in her shoes, us as players ― we always want more, more, more because we see how good it can be, but… that’s up to Adam Silver at the end of the day.”
Engelbert & The WNBA
Cathy Engelbert has served as WNBA commissioner since 2019, overseeing a period of unprecedented commercial growth for the league. Under her leadership, the WNBA has secured record-breaking media rights and sponsorship deals, expanded to new markets, experienced dramatic increases in attendance and television ratings, and negotiated a landmark collective bargaining agreement that significantly increased player salaries and benefits.
Most recently, Engelbert has guided the league through multiple expansion periods and oversaw the surge in popularity driven by stars such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu.
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Despite that growth, Engelbert’s tenure has been marked by recurring controversy over player relations and league governance. She has faced criticism from players and fans over the WNBA’s handling of officiating, player safety, online harassment, labor negotiations, and several high-profile disciplinary decisions.
Engelbert also drew backlash over her public response to discussions surrounding race and the league’s increasing polarization, with some players arguing the WNBA did not do enough to address targeted abuse or communicate effectively during periods of controversy.
