In an interview with USA Today on Wednesday, Sophie Cunningham discussed the WNBA leadership led by commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The Indiana Fever guard praised the former Deloitte CEO but added that the league needs someone “bold” and “confident, who wants the best for the players and not maybe for themselves all the time.”
On Friday, a WNBA insider weighed in on Cunningham’s remarks, which have fueled more speculation about Engelbert’s future as league commissioner.
Cathy Engelbert’s WNBA Criticism Explained as Insider Points to Issues ‘Out of Her Control’
Cunningham’s comments came amid a much broader conversation about Engelbert’s leadership.
The criticism arguably peaked last September when Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier called out the WNBA for having “the worst leadership in the world.” A’ja Wilson and other top players backed Collier at the time.
In July this year, Wilson said her relationship with Engelbert has been limited largely to occasions when the four-time MVP has received hardware from the commissioner.
Cunningham added to that scrutiny following her interview with USA Today’s Megan Hall.
On Friday, WNBA insider Annie Costabile discussed Cunningham’s comments and offered some context on why Engelbert has faced so much criticism.
“The reason she faces so much criticism is because there is a layer to her job that appears out of her control or there are aspects of her job description that maybe don’t fall within her responsibilities,” Costabile said during an interview with Yahoo Sports Daily.
“When it comes to the scrutiny, it’s not just players.” 👀@AnnieCostabile weighs in on Cathy Engelbert’s future as WNBA commissioner.
(via Yahoo Sports Daily) pic.twitter.com/eEGOItBsfW
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 21, 2026
“Even going to the CBA negotiations, there are questions about how much Adam Silver contributed to these negotiations. … There are questions about how much is out of Cathy Engelbert’s control.”
Silver’s presence has loomed large in discussions surrounding Engelbert.
In June, Engelbert was reportedly hesitant to penalize Alyssa Thomas for hitting Caitlin Clark on the neck. NBA commissioner Adam Silver ultimately urged his WNBA counterpart to suspend Thomas for one game and fine her $1,000.
Costabile also pointed out that the concerns surrounding Engelbert extend beyond the players.
“When it comes to the scrutiny, it’s not just the players. There are owners who have taken issue with certain issues that have been made.”
The questions about Engelbert’s future became even louder after the WNBA All-Star break last month. ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported:
“Multiple high-ranking team sources told ESPN they believe the 2026 season likely will be Engelbert’s last.”
Still, Costabile offered a more measured view of where things stand. She said Engelbert and the WNBA leadership are “taking a more proactive approach to some of these controversies and issues.”
According to The Athletic’s senior WNBA reporter, Engelbert is showing the “effort” of someone “who wants to stay in that position.”
For now, the criticism surrounding Engelbert is unlikely to disappear.
However, Costabile’s comments suggest the picture is more complicated than simply blaming the commissioner, particularly when some of the league’s biggest decisions involve responsibilities and influence beyond her control.
