Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is back in your podcast feed with a new show.
Cunningham dropped the first episode of "No Hesitation" with co-host Drew Hanlen, a basketball trainer, on Thursday, Sept. 10. The show replaces "Show Me Something," a pod she hosted with "Summer House" cast member West Wilson − who was also a friend from her hometown in Missouri.
The new podcast will focus on basketball as the pair spent the show breaking down film of both Cunningham, who went to Hanlen to help her with her 3-point shot, and WNBA rookie phenom Olivia Miles, who has taken the league by storm in helping the Minnesota Lynx to the top of the standings.
Beyond the court, Cunningham was asked about her thoughts on WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert retiring.
She has been outspoken in criticism of Engelbert, predicting she wasn't long for the job in late August. So what's on the wish list for new commissioner?
"It definitely has to be someone who is in great communication with the players, because at the end of the day, we should be joining forces. We should be working together to grow this league to the best of its ability," Cunningham said. "And I really do think it's the sky's the limit when we work together.
"Under previous people who were leading, we would be in the same room with each other, say you're the commissioner. We wouldn't even say hi. And there would only be five people in the room. Like, is that not weird or awkward?"
The WNBA and its teams did skyrocket in value during Engelbert's tenure, television ratings rose and player salaries increased. The WNBA is set to expand from 12 to 15 teams with Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) launching within the next four years. Engelbert also helped negotiate an 11-year, $3.1 billion media rights agreement.
Despite that, Engelbert was criticized for not having a good relationship with the players. WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier used her exit interview last season to detail her issues with Engelbert, who told Collier said, "players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them."
"That's mentality driving our league from the top … The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them," Collier said.
A few of the names being floated as a replacement are former players. Cunningham said the new commissioner would benefit from getting to know the players and opening up a clear line of communication from the start.
"We're not always going to agree, but I think there's a level of respect that you can have and just being a human of being friendly and nice," Cunningham said. "I think that's a really good start."
"You also need someone who can unite people and bring people together and everyone have a common goal and get on the same page. ... Our league is thriving right now. So who can we bring in someone that is going to even push us even farther, like thinking bigger than what we're thinking as players."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sophie Cunningham says one thing must change with WNBA's next commissioner
