Adam Silver has reached out directly to Sophie Cunningham for input as the search for the WNBA's next commissioner gets underway, a sign the league wants players involved early in shaping its next chapter of leadership.

Cunningham, an eight-year veteran known for speaking her mind, confirmed that Silver reached out to her about the vacancy. Speaking to reporters after a recent Fever practice, she described the conversations in positive terms. 

"I have talked to Adam Silver a couple of 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 on how he approaches the NBA is huge, and who he's kind of looking for. I think if you want to know the real answers, you go to him."

Yahoo Sports published an article about this conversation. However, the NBA didn't comment on the specifics of those conversations. Silver has a track record of consulting players on issues that affect both leagues, and this outreach fits that pattern. 

As the person who oversaw current commissioner Cathy Engelbert's original hiring, he's expected to play a central role in picking her replacement.

Engelbert announced on September 4, 2026, that she will step down at the end of the year after more than seven years as the WNBA's first commissioner. Her tenure brought unprecedented growth across viewership, attendance, media rights, and expansion. 

However, her final stretch was marked by real friction with players, especially during tense collective bargaining talks ahead of the 2026 season.

Much of the criticism centered on communication gaps and a sense that the league office wasn't genuinely connected to the athletes.

That leaves a burning question: What do the players, including Cunningham, want in the next commissioner?

What does Cunningham want in the next leader?

Cunningham has been consistent about her priorities for the role. She wants someone who can "unite everybody" and build a real relationship with players. 

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

Her comments track closely with what other players have said publicly. Caitlin Clark has stressed the importance of communication in league leadership, while Minnesota's Kayla McBride recently said the league needs someone who "cares about the players." 

It all points to lingering frustration from the later years of Engelbert's tenure, when business success didn't always translate to strong personal engagement from the top.

Do you think player input like Cunningham's will meaningfully influence who gets picked as the next commissioner?

Written by

Zaid Quraishi