As the WNBA prepares for its first major leadership transition in seven years, players like Sophie Cunningham are making clear that the next commissioner must be more than a capable executive — they must be a genuine partner to the athletes who give the league its soul. With outgoing commissioner Cathy Engelbert having shepherded remarkable growth while navigating occasional friction with players, the search for her successor arrives at a moment when the league's momentum is undeniable and its internal relationships are under scrutiny. The question being asked in locker rooms and boardrooms al