Sophie Cunningham says Adam Silver consulted her about pending WNBA commissioner vacancy

Sophie Cunningham told reporters Monday that NBA commissioner Adam Silver consulted her about the pending WNBA commissioner vacancy.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced on Sept. 4 that she'll retire at the conclusion of the 2026 season. Silver oversaw the process to hire Engelbert and is expected to do so for whomever is hired next as WNBA commissioner.

Cunningham is an eight-year WNBA veteran and a backup guard for the Indiana Fever . She's one of the league's more outspoken and public-facing players and says she has Silver's ear in regard to the next WNBA commissioner.

Per Cunningham, Silver reached out to her for her thoughts on the pending opening. She spoke about her conversation with Silver after the Fever practiced Monday.

"I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times, and I think he's a great guy," Cunningham said Monday, per the Associated Press. "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. I think if you want to know the real answers, you go to him."

Per the Associated Press, the NBA declined when asked to address what Silver and Cunningham discussed; but Silver has a history of consulting players about NBA and WNBA matters.

What WNBA players want after contentious Engelbert tenure

Engelbert has overseen a period of enormous growth for the WNBA. But the latter years of her seven-plus year tenure as commissioner have been marked by public tension with the league's players. Engelbert was a frequent target of pointed criticism from prominent players that reached the level of disdain during tense collective bargaining agreement negotiations ahead of the 2026 season.

Independent of the CBA tensions, players have criticized Engelbert for a lack of communication, including Cunningham's All-Star Fever teammate, Caitlin Clark .

"Relationships are really important to me," Clark said during the All-Star break in July of what she wants out of WNBA leadership. "And I think we can always improve in that area. I think that can improve a lot of things. … Communication and relationships solve a lot of issues and a lot of problems."

Minnesota Lynx All-Star Kayla McBride said Monday that the league needs a commissioner who "cares about the players."

"Where women's basketball is right now, we need somebody at the helm that can continue to develop us forward and that cares about the players," McBride said. "That's really all it is."

Cunningham said Monday that the league needs "someone who's going to unite everybody" and a commissioner who "wants a relationship with their players."

"I really do think that you need a commissioner who is players first, who wants a relationship with their players," Cunningham said . "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."

When asked, Cunningham said that she didn't have anybody in mind for the job.