Talking With Sophie Cunningham About WNBA Commish Shows NBA Commish Might Actually Get It

After the WNBA nearly spiraled out of control in the middle of its regular season, there may still be some hope for the future of the association.

Earlier this month, Cathy Engelbert announced she is retiring at the end of the year from her disastrous tenure as the WNBA commissioner. Whether it was the lack of leadership, her lack of control over the league, or the recent debacle of who should be allowed to play in the league following Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s harmless comments, Engelbert had many miscues along the way.

Cathy Englebert is “retiring” aka being fired. So the WNBA will have a new commissioner. Hopefully the new commissioner can tell us what a woman is.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 4, 2026

Here comes NBA commissioner Adam Silver to the rescue. To solve the problems, he went directly to the voice of reason for the latest drama.

Cunningham told the media following a Fever practice that Silver reached out to her in regards to the opening at the position at the end of the year. Cunningham raved about his commitment and thought process over the league that he oversees as part of his duties running the NBA.

“I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times, and I think he’s a great guy,” Cunningham said. “He was very knowledgeable and full of wisdom, and so getting to talk to him and hear his perspective of how he approaches the NBA is huge, who he’s kind of looking for.”

“But I think he’s going to put someone in place who really wants to take our league to another level than it’s already at. Our league is booming, so why would we not [want] someone who’s going to make it even more booming?”

Silver talking to Cunningham is ideal for the future of the league. Clearly, she wants what is best for the league and his commitment to talk to a player who has been receiving backlash from players, coaches, and sports media alike for just speaking her mind and her beliefs. It gives hope that the league can stay afloat.

Cunningham’s comments also highlight where Engelbert went wrong during her time in charge, most notably when it comes to the player-to-commissioner relationship.

She included that she wants a “players-first commissioner” who wants a relationship with the players, not necessarily always having to side with them, but just wants to communicate with them. The Fever guard’s comments correlate directly to those of WNBA players Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart. In a story with the Washington Post in July, Ionescu said she speaks to Silver more than Engelbert, and Stewart added there “was not much of a relationship” between players and the soon-to-be former commissioner.

Silver knows that Cunningham, being one of the faces of the league, should help set the foundation of what’s to come in the WNBA.

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