Sophie Cunningham comments on major WNBA development

The WNBA will have a new commissioner next season, and Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham shared her thoughts about it. Cathy Engelbert is set to retire after this campaign, and several names have emerged as her potential replacement.

The league is currently in its FIBA World Cup break and will resume by Thursday. Team USA captured gold in Berlin and secured its fifth consecutive world championship. All eight playoff spots have been clinched, but teams still have a lot to play for as they have yet to finalize the final seedings.

Cunningham and the Fever are currently fifth in the standings with a 26-14 record. They have the same win-loss slate as the Atlanta Dream; however, they don’t own the tiebreaker. Both teams are trailing the Las Vegas Aces by one game.

WNBA: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham — Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during an WNBA game.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham opens up about new WNBA commissioner

The veteran guard addressed reporters on Monday. She was asked to share what she wants from whoever replaces Engelbert to help the WNBA grow further.

“I think that WNBA has always been a place for people to feel safe and comfortable,” Cunningham said. “I think there’s all types of walks in this organization or in this league, which I think is absolutely awesome. We 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. You continue to have a growth mindset and see other people’s walks of life and really get to know why they are the way they are.

“That’s truly fun, you are playing the best basketball, you’re in the best league in the entire world. Yet you’re getting to learn so much about who you are as a human who other people are as a human. With all that with all the diversity, you do need someone who’s going to unite our league and have a common goal, get us all on the same page. I think that’s super important.”

#Fever’s Sophie Cunningham on what the next commissioner should prioritize:

“The #WNBA has always been a place for people to feel safe/comfortable. I think there are all types of walks in this league. …You need someone who’s gonna unite everybody b/c it can be so different.” pic.twitter.com/MDbXu9E057

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 14, 2026

Cunningham and Indiana have four games remaining on their regular season schedule. They will play their next game on Friday at Coca-Cola Coliseum against the Toronto Tempo. A two-game homestand follows before their final assignment versus the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center on Sept. 24.