Sophie Cunningham rips WNBA, commissioner Cathy Engelbert: 'They're failing us as a league'

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham isn’t pleased with WNBA leadership. Cunningham tore into the league and commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a lengthy statement during Fever exit interviews Thursday.

Cunningham ripped WNBA leadership, saying the league needs to step up and demanding accountability for those in charge.

‘I’m just tired of our league,” Cunningham said. “They need to step up and be better.”

When asked about the officiating, Cunningham said the players believe there is room of improvement on that front, but the WNBA isn’t taking action. She added, “Leadership from top to bottom needs to be held accountable.”

She continued on that front, saying the people who have positions of power in the WNBA “don’t know s*** about basketball.” Cunningham said that “has to change.”

While Cunningham did not call out Engelbert by name at first, she eventually singled out the commissioner when asked about comments made by Napheesa Collier.

Cunningham said she’s “not really a fan of our leadership.” She then accused the WNBA of “failing us as a league, definitely failing us as players.” Cunningham then called it “shameful” that Engelbert always “makes it about her.”

Engelbert is under fire from players after Collier made a lengthy statement Tuesday calling out the commissioner and the league office. At the start of her four-and-a-half minute statement, Collier said the “real threat to our league” was the “lack of accountability from the league office.” She accused the league from not caring about its players and tore into Engelbert for, among many other things, saying young stars like Caitlin Clark should “be grateful” for the platform the WNBA gives her.

Collier’s statement comes before a contentious offseason. The league and its players are facing possible labor strife with the expiration of the collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) on Oct. 31. If both sides can’t reach an agreement before then, there could be a lockout and a possible delay of the 2026 WNBA season.

Cunningham spoke about that possible Thursday, calling it “the dumbest basketball position ever.”

Cunningham added there was a WNBA Player Association (WNBPA) call Thursday aimed at discussing the latest proposal from the league.

With just weeks to go before that deadline, things don’t look promising. Collier’s comments were backed up by Fever guard Lexie Hull, who is also a WNBPA rep. Hull said she agreed with everything Collier said in her statement.

That same attitude was on display Thursday, when Cunningham spoke on Collier’s comments. Clark also weighed in, saying the league needs “great leadership” during “straight-up the most important moment in our league.” She was fully supportive of Collier’s statement, saying the Minnesota Lynx guard made a lot of “valid points.” Clark added that she has not heard from Engelbert since Collier’s comments.

While Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell mostly talked about her scary medical situation, she also hinted at the possibility of labor unrest in the offseason. When asked about her free agency, Mitchell said, “I hope we have a league.”

Throughout the WNBA season, there was a simmering tenseness over the labor situation. With the CBA deadline fast approaching, things have seemingly reached a critical mass after Collier spoke out.

The players have made their thoughts clear. It’s now up to Engelbert — the person at the center of the players’ criticism — to figure out the best path forward.

Sophie Cunningham rips WNBA, commissioner Cathy Engelbert: ‘They’re failing us as a league’

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