The WNBA is gearing up for a significant transition this offseason, and Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has a clear vision for the league’s future leadership. With Commissioner Cathy Engelbert planning to retire at the season’s end, Cunningham emphasized that the league needs more than just a strong business mind leading the way.
During a recent appearance on the Colin Cowheard Podcast, Cunningham addressed the criticism Engelbert has faced throughout her tenure. While acknowledging the difficulty of the role, she expressed optimism for whoever steps into Engelbert’s shoes next.
“You need someone with a backbone, someone bold and courageous who can bring people together,” Cunningham said. She stressed the importance of a commissioner who actively engages with the players — unlike Engelbert, who Cunningham described as distant, often ignoring players and focusing solely on business matters. “This is a players’ league. The commissioner must build relationships, listen, and collaborate with us. I don’t think we ever had that connection with Cathy.”
Her remarks come at a pivotal moment for the WNBA. Engelbert has served as commissioner since 2019, overseeing a period of unprecedented growth and increased visibility for the league. This surge in attention, however, has also coincided with controversies, notably the heated debate around transgender athletes in women’s sports, sparked by Cunningham’s own ESPN interview in July.
Cunningham recognized Engelbert’s strengths as a business leader, citing her role in boosting merchandise sales, securing corporate partnerships, and leading a historic $75 million investment round in 2022—the largest ever in women’s sports. Still, Cunningham suggested that Engelbert may not have been fully equipped to manage the league’s rapid expansion. “She made good business decisions initially, but once we exploded, I don’t think she was ready for it,” Cunningham explained.
According to an ESPN report, the search for Engelbert’s successor is already underway. Engelbert revealed to the Associated Press that she has been preparing a “succession plan for years,” and that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been sent a list of potential candidates. Notably, league insiders suggest the next WNBA commissioner might come from outside the traditional corporate sphere, recognizing that unconventional leadership could provide new advantages at this stage.
This isn’t Cunningham’s first critique of Engelbert. On the debut episode of her podcast No Hesitation, she called their interactions “awkward,” lamenting the lack of simple, human connection. “When the commissioner was in a room with us, she wouldn’t even say hi. Just be friendly, be human,” Cunningham said.
For Cunningham, the absence of a genuine relationship between players and leadership during Engelbert’s time was glaring. As the search for a new commissioner progresses, her message is clear: the WNBA needs a leader who prioritizes connection with the players driving the league’s rapid rise—not just a business-first executive.
Fan Take: This leadership change is critical for WNBA fans because it signals a potential shift toward more player-driven, inclusive governance that could deepen the league’s cultural impact. A commissioner who truly values the athletes’ voices might not only enhance the players’ experience but also fuel the WNBA’s growth as a premier sports league.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
