Sophie Cunningham says she's talked with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver amid search for WNBA's next commissioner
WNBA Eyes New Commissioner as Cathy Engelbert Announces 2026 Retirement
The Women’s National Basketball Association is preparing for its first leadership change in seven years. President Sophie Cunningham said the league is actively seeking a successor to current commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who will step down at the end of 2026 after a tenure that saw the league grow in attendance, television audiences, sponsorship revenue, and franchise values.
Cunningham told reporters this week that the search process is already underway. She noted that Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner who is overseeing the selection, has provided insight to the WNBA’s leadership. “I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times, and I think he’s a great guy who’s very knowledgeable and full of wisdom,” Cunningham said. “Just getting to talk to him and hear his perspective of his approach to the NBA is huge.”
While Cunningham refrained from naming candidates, she emphasized the qualities that the WNBA believes will be essential in the next commissioner. “I think he’s going to put someone in place who really wants to take our league to another level than it’s already at,” she said. “Our league is booming, so why would we not want someone who is going to try to make it even more booming?”
The current league has been expanding its footprint. Engelbert’s tenure began in 2019, and under her guidance the WNBA grew from 12 to 18 teams by 2030, secured new media‑rights deals exceeding $3 billion, and negotiated collective bargaining agreements that strengthened player and league relationships. Still, Engelbert’s relationship with players has sometimes been strained, a reality that the league hopes its next commissioner will be able to navigate.
Cunningham stressed that the next commissioner must prioritize players. “My second thing is I really do think that you need a commissioner that is players first, who wants a relationship with the players,” she said. “I think that’s so important.” She added that the WNBA has always been a place where people can feel safe and comfortable, and that a new leader should unite a diverse group of stakeholders. “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.”
In the same vein, Cunningham described the delicate balance the commissioner must strike: “That doesn’t mean we’re always going to get along and we’re always going to agree,” she noted. “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.”
The WNBA’s search for a new commissioner comes at a pivotal moment. With the league’s expansion and increased media exposure, the role has become more complex than it was when Engelbert first took the helm. The league’s board and its partners are looking for someone who can continue to build on the momentum, deepen the league’s relationship with players, and navigate the evolving landscape of professional women’s sports.
Engelbert’s retirement marks the end of a four‑year period of unprecedented growth. She has overseen the addition of new teams, secured multi‑year media‑rights agreements, and helped raise the profile of women’s basketball across the United States. In her announcement, she expressed gratitude for the support of players, owners, and fans and pledged to ensure a smooth transition.
As the WNBA moves forward, fans and stakeholders alike will watch closely to see who emerges as the next commissioner. The league’s commitment to a players‑first philosophy, combined with a drive to grow the sport, will guide the selection process. In the words of Cunningham, the goal is clear: “Our league is booming, so why would we not want someone who is going to try to make it even more booming?”