‘Where (Cathy) Engelbert Went Wrong’ – Writer Lauds Adam Silver for Seeking Sophie Cunningham’s Input on Next WNBA Commissioner

Mohamed Rizvi Wed, September 16, 2026 at 3:07 PM UTC

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Adam Silver’s approach to finding the WNBA’s next commissioner has drawn praise this week. A sports writer used the moment to point directly at what he believes Cathy Engelbert was lacking during her turbulent tenure as the WNBA commissioner.

His argument centered less on Silver himself and more on who the official chose to consult with.

NBA Writer Praises Adam Silver’s Efforts to Get Sophie Cunningham’s Input

Writing for Sport & State, Gus Wilson praised Silver for reaching out directly to Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham for her input on the search to replace Engelbert, who announced earlier this month she will retire at the end of the year.

Wilson said the outreach was evidence that Silver understands something Engelbert never fully grasped during her time running the league.

Cunningham told reporters following a Fever practice that Silver had contacted her personally about what qualities the league’s next leader should have.

“I have talked to Adam Silver a couple 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 of how he approaches the NBA is huge, who he’s kind of looking for.”

Wilson argued that Silver’s decision to seek out a player, rather than relying solely on league executives or owners, speaks directly to where he believes Engelbert fell short.

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“Cunningham’s comments also highlight where Engelbert went wrong during her time in charge, most notably when it comes to the player-to-commissioner relationship,” he wrote.

Wilson cited a July Washington Post report in which Sabrina Ionescu said she speaks with Silver more often than she does with Engelbert, and Breanna Stewart said there was “not much of a relationship” between players and the outgoing commissioner.

Cunningham herself has been one of Engelbert’s most vocal critics this year, previously saying during her podcast that league leadership needed to be “ashamed of themselves” over how players have been treated during collective bargaining discussions.

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With the search for Engelbert’s successor now underway, Wilson’s piece suggests that simply talking to players, something he argues Engelbert rarely prioritized, may already be one of the clearest signals of what the next commissioner needs to get right from the start.

Cunningham has become an increasingly influential voice in the conversation around the league’s leadership vacancy, even as she remains one of the more polarizing figures in the WNBA this season.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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