WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced she will retire at the end of the 2026 season, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to lead the search for her replacement. Silver has already started reaching out to players for their input, and one of those players is Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
Cunningham spoke about those conversations after Monday’s practice during the FIBA World Cup break.
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Sophie Cunningham details Adam Silver’s search for WNBA leadership
Cunningham said Silver reached out to hear directly from players about what they want in the next commissioner. When she spoke to reporters after Monday’s practice, she made clear that those conversations have shaped her thinking on what the role requires and who should fill it.
“I have no one. I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times and I think he’s a great guy. He’s very knowledgeable and full of wisdom and so just getting to talk to him and hear his perspective of how he, you know, approaches the NBA is huge, who he’s kind of looking for,” Cunningham said.
“He’s going to put someone in place who really wants to, you know, even take our league to another level that it’s already at. Our league so why would we not want someone who’s going to try to make it even more boomy and I think he’s going to do that. So I’m super excited of that search and he’s going to bring in for us with him,” she added.
May 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) warms up before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
The WNBA has seen ticket sales, merchandise revenue, and television ratings rise sharply since the Fever drafted Caitlin Clark with the first pick in 2024. Engelbert’s tenure included a richer television contract, a new collective bargaining agreement, and the addition of charter flights for teams. Cunningham wants whoever comes next to build on that foundation rather than simply maintain it.
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The biggest priority for Cunningham is finding someone who can hold together a league with a wide range of voices and perspectives. She said the WNBA’s diversity is one of its strengths, but that it makes strong and unifying leadership even more important. She wants a commissioner who values the players and keeps them central to every major decision.
Sophie Cunningham accepts heavier workload as WNBA expands
Cunningham had also weighed in on the scheduling debate that has followed the league’s rapid growth. She acknowledged that back-to-backs are part of playing at a higher level and that players earning more should expect more demands on the court.
But she also suggested the league could think about how it structures the calendar, pointing to long breaks between stretches of games as something worth examining.
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She added, “I know the NBA doesn’t like back-to-backs, but when you get paid as much as they do, as much as we do, you know, you were expected to play more games… At the end of the day, you know that season is a grind. It’s part of it. And so you got to soak that up.”
Cunningham’s view matches the leadership priorities she has already shared in her discussion about the next WNBA commissioner. The WNBA Players Association’s concerns about player safety and league representation also show why stronger communication with players will matter.
The practical message is simple. Higher salaries can support a heavier schedule, but the league still needs smarter travel plans, fair rest periods, and direct player input. The next commissioner must grow the business without treating player health as a business cost.
