Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has talked with NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the traits she would like to see in the next WNBA commissioner.
She told reporters after the Fever’s practice on Monday that Silver reached out to her for her thoughts, though the NBA declined to state just what Cunningham and Silver talked about, according to ESPN.
Silver has been known, however, to discuss important topics with players in both the NBA and WNBA. He is expected to lead the effort to identify who will replace Cathy Engelbert, who plans to retire at the end of 2026, as commissioner.
The WNBA commissioner reports to him.
Cunningham, 30, has been vocal this season in sharing how she feels about issues impacting women’s sports, notably her stand of transgender athletes playing in girls’ and women’s programs. The Fever guard has plenty of detractors, with Cunningham often greeted by protests at out-of-town arenas.
Cunningham did not share any names of potential candidates she might have passed on to Silver, but she wants to see the new commissioner do two things: build on the league’s growth in popularity over the past few seasons and unify the players.
“I think the WNBA has always been a place for people to feel safe and comfortable,” Cunningham said. “I think there’s all types of walks in this organization, or in this league, which I think is absolutely awesome. But I do think with that you need someone who’s going to unite everybody because it can be so different. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. I think it makes it a lot of fun.”
She said she also wants a commissioner who has an open door with players.
“I really do think that you need a commissioner who is players’ first, who wants a relationship with their players,” Cunningham said, per ESPN. “I think that’s so important. That doesn’t mean we’re always going to get along, and we’re always going to agree. Like they have a job, they work for the owners, and so they’re going to have to make hard decisions.
“But if you have that open line of communication and that respect level, I think that it just feels different. I think that is a very important piece for our new commissioner.”
–Field Level Media
