Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon believes the WNBA may be approaching a crossroads when it comes to leadership, as frustration among players continues to mount. Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon says the WNBA could benefit from new leadership, pointing to what she views as a strained and possibly irreparable relationship between league officials and players.
Speaking with CNBC Sport roughly a month after guiding the Aces to their third WNBA championship, Hammon reflected on the ongoing criticism aimed at Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. According to Hammon, the divide between the commissioner’s office and players has grown so wide that a leadership shift may be inevitable.
“I think they’re probably going to look for a change at the top,” Hammon said. “At this point, the relationship feels too fractured.”
The debate intensified in late September when Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier openly questioned Engelbert’s leadership, citing concerns over player pay, officiating standards and what she described as a lack of empathy. Collier referenced remarks Engelbert allegedly made during a February meeting — comments that sparked backlash across the league and prompted several players to speak out.
Hammon suggested that the damage from those conversations may be difficult to undo.
“I don’t know if you can fully walk those comments back and regain that trust,” she said. “Once that connection is broken, it’s really hard to rebuild.”
At the same time, Hammon acknowledged that the league has historically prided itself on listening to its athletes.
“The WNBA has always stood for valuing player voices,” she said. “When players speak, people are supposed to listen — and I think that’s happening now.”
The WNBA declined direct comment on Hammon’s remarks, instead highlighting Engelbert’s business track record since taking over as commissioner in 2019 after a long career at Deloitte.
Under Engelbert’s leadership, the league navigated the Covid-19 pandemic and achieved record growth in revenue, attendance and viewership. She played a key role in negotiating the 2020 collective bargaining agreement and securing a new media rights deal that boosted annual media revenue from $60 million to $200 million. The league also expanded significantly, adding six franchises, with the most recent teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia paying a record $250 million each in expansion fees.
In 2024, Engelbert further professionalized the league by introducing charter flights for all teams and upgrading accommodations to five-star hotels.
Despite those gains, many players argue their salaries still lag far behind the NBA’s — and don’t reflect the league’s surging popularity. Ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, Engelbert addressed the criticism directly, acknowledging the need for improvement.
“If players don’t feel valued or appreciated, then I have to do better,” she said.
The league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association are currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, with a deadline set for Nov. 30.
Hammon’s perspective carries significant weight within the sport. A former six-time WNBA All-Star, she made history in 2020 as the first woman to serve as an acting NBA head coach while with the San Antonio Spurs. Since taking over the Aces in 2021, she has led the franchise to three championships in four years and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
As talks continue and pressure builds, Hammon’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among players — that while the WNBA has grown rapidly, its leadership must evolve alongside it.
