Sports

Adam Silver: Next WNBA Commissioner Must Unify Players and Owners

Essentially Sports · September 16, 2026

Key takeaways

Adam Silver says the WNBA's next commissioner must prioritize unifying players with ownership, not just growing the business.
Cathy Engelbert leaves behind massive financial growth — franchise values up from $10M to $460M and $3.1B in media rights — but faced criticism over player relationships.
WNBPA VP Napheesa Collier publicly criticized Engelbert's leadership in 2025, highlighting ongoing tension between the league office and players.

Silver Weighs In on WNBA's Next Move

Adam Silver isn't the WNBA's commissioner, but as the NBA's top exec and a key figure overseeing the league's growth, his opinion carries weight. And he's made it clear: whoever replaces the retiring Cathy Engelbert needs to be a bridge-builder, not just a business mind.

"We need somebody who is going to help unify the players with the players and the players with ownership," Silver told The Athletic. It's a pointed comment, given the friction that defined much of Engelbert's tenure — especially in her final years.

Engelbert's Complicated Legacy

Say what you want about her relationship with players, but Engelbert's numbers don't lie. She took over in 2019 when the average WNBA franchise was valued around $10 million. Today, that number sits near $460 million. The league expanded from 12 to 18 teams (with more growth coming), locked in two collective bargaining agreements, and signed media rights deals worth $3.1 billion.

That's a business transformation almost unmatched in modern sports history. But the human side of the job — player trust — was where things got messy. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx star and WNBPA vice president, publicly blasted Engelbert in September 2025, accusing her of mishandling communication and failing to prioritize player voices during a tense CBA negotiation period.

Why the Next Hire Matters So Much

The WNBA is at an inflection point. The financial and structural groundwork is laid — new teams, new money, a long-term labor deal. What's missing, according to Silver, is trust. The next commissioner inherits a league that's no longer fighting for survival, but fighting for cohesion.

That's a different job than the one Engelbert took in 2019. Back then, the priority was proving the league could be profitable and relevant at scale. Now, with that mission largely accomplished, the priority shifts to relationship management — making sure players, owners, and league office are rowing in the same direction instead of trading public jabs.

What Comes Next

No official successor has been named, but the search will likely focus on candidates who combine business acumen with genuine credibility among players. Given how personal and public the Collier-Engelbert tension got, the WNBPA will almost certainly have a loud voice in whoever gets hired next.

For a league riding record valuations and expansion momentum, the wrong pick could stall the good vibes. The right one could turn a business success story into a genuinely unified one.

Why it matters

The WNBA's next commissioner will shape how the league's newfound financial success translates into trust between players and owners. For fans, this hire could determine whether the league's momentum continues smoothly or hits labor turbulence again.