Sophie Cunningham talks WNBA commissioner search with Adam Silver

Sophie Cunningham has spoken to Adam Silver more than once about who should take over as WNBA commissioner, after the NBA chief reached out to her directly.

"I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times, and I think he's a great guy," the Indiana Fever guard said on Monday. "He was very knowledgeable and full of wisdom and so getting to talk to him and hear his perspective of how he approaches the NBA is huge, who he's kind of looking for. You go to him if you want to know the real answers."

Cathy Engelbert recently announced she will step down as WNBA commissioner at the end of the year, leaving the post vacant. Silver has long made a habit of talking to players about league matters, though the NBA declined to say what exactly he and Cunningham discussed. Cunningham gave no names of candidates she might favour.

She was clear about the type of leader she wants installed. "He's going to put someone in place who really wants to take our league to another level than it's already at. Our league is booming, so why would we not want someone who's going to make it even more booming?"

Cunningham has been a divisive figure this season over her stance against transgender athletes competing in women's and girls' sport, a position she has held to despite pushback from a large section of fans. That did not stop her from framing the next commissioner's job in terms of bringing the league together rather than dividing it further.

"The WNBA has always been a place for people to feel safe and comfortable. There's all types of walks in this organisation, or in this league, which is absolutely awesome," she said. "But I do think with that you need someone who's going to unite everybody because it can be so different. But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing."