What did Adam Silver tell Sophie Cunningham? Fever guard reveals details of private call with NBA boss

Sophie Cunningham picked up the phone recently and found NBA commissioner Adam Silver on the other end, wanting her honest read on what the WNBA needs in its next leader. The Indiana Fever guard confirmed the call took place, though she kept most of it close, choosing instead to speak in broad terms about the kind of person she thinks should take over from Cathy Engelbert.Talking with reporters after practice, Cunningham didn't hand Silver a shortlist of names. She laid out a vision instead, one built around unity and genuine access for players, a pointed nod to what many around the league feel has been missing during Engelbert's run at the top.Sophie Cunningham reveals conversation with Adam SilverSophie Cunningham addressed the call on Monday, a few days after Engelbert announced she would step down at the end of 2026. Silver is expected to lead the search for her replacement, since the WNBA commissioner answers directly to him. Neither the league nor Cunningham confirmed exactly what was said between the two, but the fact that Silver reached out to a player at all says something about how much her voice carries these days.“I think the WNBA has always been a place for people to feel safe and comfortable. 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,” Cunningham said.Cunningham, 30, has become one of the more talked-about figures in the league this year, largely because of her outspoken stance on transgender athletes competing in women's sports. That position has drawn protests at road games and turned her into a polarizing figure for some fans. Whatever friction it's created outside the arena, it clearly hasn't stopped Silver from valuing her input on league matters that go well beyond the court.She didn't put forward any specific candidates for the job, saying she trusts Silver and his team to make that call. What she did offer was a clear picture of the qualities she wants in whoever takes the role next.Why Cunningham wants a WNBA commissioner who unites the leagueThe 6-foot-1 guard was direct about what matters most to her. She wants someone capable of bringing together a locker room, and a league, that includes a wide range of personalities and perspectives. "You need someone who's going to unite everybody," Cunningham said, framing that difference as a strength rather than a problem.Engelbert has faced criticism for keeping her distance from players, and Cunningham shared that she wants the opposite from the next commissioner: someone willing to build real relationships with the athletes, even when that means delivering decisions players won't love. An open line of communication, she argued, changes how those tough calls land.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.