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Indiana Fever Guard Sophie Cunningham has been among the most obvious WNBA players to tackle the recent controversy around Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. During his latest podcast episode, Cunningham continued to speak out and called the league boss to act out of self-interest.
Both on social media and during her exit interview Wednesday, Cunningham spoke in the long run about her problems with Engelbert and League that was official.
Indiana Fever -vagt Sophie Cunningham (8) warms up before the start of the game against Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. (David Butler II/Imag images)
“I’m just tired of our league. They have to step up and be better. Our lead to bottom must be held responsible. I think there are a lot of people in the positions of power in Wnba, Who they might be really good business people, but they don’t know S — about basketball. And that must change. ”
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In the latest episode of her podcast, “Show me something,” Cunningham expanded with his thoughts in the midst of the current collective negotiation agreement (CBA) negotiations.
“At the end of the day everyone is tired – tired of how the league treats us.
“They have to be ashamed of what they give back to us because it’s nothing. It’s nothing. They don’t listen. The thing is, they’re not even engaging with us. It’s bad.”
Cunningham, whose first season of the fever was shortened due to injury, again addressed Engelbert. She said that Engelbert lacked the qualities of a “great leader” and said that the recent comments from the Commissioner were out of self -interest.
Indiana Fever -vagt Sophie Cunningham (8) plays against Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at PhX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, August 7, 2025. (Mark J. Refilas/Imag images)
WNBA -Commissioner denies alleged statement saying that Caitlin Clark should be ‘grateful’ for the league for success
“Big leaders want to see other people be more successful than the ones they want to make sure they are cared for,” Cunningham said. “And I get it, she is the business side of it. As if I get it. But you can be respectful and treat your product – the product of why people are aware why people buy certain jerseys – treating your product with respect.
“As a great leader. She is not. She is not in any way. The disrespect is just crazy to me.”
“I think this just such a central point in WNBA because there are so many eyes on us that there are so many new fans – there are millions of millions I should say, of new fans – and at the end of the day she is worried about her. In all her statements it is like: ‘Well, I got us here and I -,’ Cathy no one lies.
Engelbert turned to the media on Friday and was asked about comments Napheesa Collier claimed she made about star player Caitlin Clark. Engelbert denied the accusations.
Cathy Engelbert talks with the media during the 2024 WNBA draft on April 15, 2024 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. (Melanie Fuars/NBAE via Getty Images)
“Obviously, I did not make these comments. Caitlin has been a transformation player in this league. She has been a great representative of the game. She has brought tens of thousands of millions new fans to the game,” she said.
“There is a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media and all this reporting,” she later added. “A lot of reporting, a lot of inaccuracy about what I say what I didn’t say.”
Players’ Association and WNBA accepted an eight-year deal in 2020, but last year WNBPA voted to opt out of the agreement early. The current agreement is set to expire October 31.
