Sophie Cunningham backs WNBA leadership change amid commissioner Cathy Engelbert's uncertain future

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has joined a growing chorus supporting change to WNBA leadership.

In an interview with USA Today senior WNBA reporter Meghan L. Hall, the Fever role player and cultural lightning rod spoke on a number of topics, including Engelbert's future. The eight-year WNBA commissioner's contract expires at the end of the 2026 season.

"I do feel like, as a whole, that could be a position that's maybe open at the end of the year," Cunningham told Hall, later acknowledging that while Engelbert has "done a lot of good things ... with where our league is trying to go, I feel like you just want someone who also wants that."

While she doesn't often speak for the majority of WNBA players, in this instance, Cunningham's comments are in line with what others have suggested — sometimes in much harsher terms. While players won't ultimately decide Engelbert's fate — that falls on NBA commissioner Adam Silver's shoulders — the growing consensus reveals the dangers of the league maintaining the status quo.

Cathy Engelbert's future as WNBA commissioner uncertain amid growing calls for change

Last September following the end of the Minnesota Lynx's season, star forward Napheesa Collier blasted Engelbert during a news conference, saying, "We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But right now, we have the worst leadership in the world."

Fever guard and the team's alternate player representative Lexie Hull commented afterward, "I think I agree with everything said."

ESPN WNBA reporter Alexa Philippou shared messages of support on social media from players including Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike and Cunningham herself ("[Engelbert's] the most delusional leader our league has seen," she wrote) while the WNBAPA backed Collier in a statement.

"The leaders of the league and its teams would benefit from listening to her powerful statement," it read.

More recently, articles from ESPN and The Athletic questioned Engelbert's longterm viability as WNBA commissioner, with one crisis management specialist telling Philippou, "She's in a place now where I don't really know what she does."

While Engelbert has led the league through an era of massive growth, the sport's explosion in popularity is more directly tied to college stars including Caitlin Clark, Reese and Bueckers entering the association. With more big-name college stars including Hannah Hidalgo, Juju Watkins, Madison Booker and Mikayla Blakes coming down the pipeline over the next few years, the league is bound to get even bigger, making it crucial for the WNBA to have proper leadership. Indications so far point to Engelbert not being that person.

As calls for the league to make a change at commissioner grow, the idea of Engelbert staying in the role is becoming more and more untenable. If Silver listened to the players, she'd already be gone.