Las Vegas Aces Coach Becky Hammon Says WNBA May Need New Leadership Amid Growing Player Frustrations

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon says the WNBA may be reaching a breaking point in its relationship with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, signaling that a change in leadership could soon be on the table. In an interview with CNBC Sport, conducted one month after Hammon secured her third WNBA Championship with the Aces, the Hall of Famer described what she sees as a deeply strained dynamic between Engelbert and many of the league’s players — a divide that has intensified in recent months as calls for Engelbert to step down grow louder.

Hammon said the situation may have deteriorated beyond repair. “I would say they’re probably going to look for a change in leadership. I just think it might be too fractured at this point,” she said. Her comments follow mounting criticism from star players, including Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who in late September publicly faulted Engelbert for what she described as a lack of empathy on issues ranging from player pay to ongoing officiating concerns.

Collier also referenced comments Engelbert reportedly made during a February meeting, remarks that sparked significant backlash and prompted additional players to come forward with similar frustrations. According to Hammon, the fallout has reached a level that will be hard for the commissioner to overcome. “I don’t know if she can ever, kind of, regret, retract and get that traction back from those conversations,” she said.

Brown basketball above a steel basketball hoop | Source: Pexels

Hammon emphasized that player voices have historically carried substantial weight in the league and should continue to do so. “The one thing that the [league] has always stood for is when the players speak, people need to sit up and listen,” she said. “I think [Engelbert is] sitting up and listening now.”

The WNBA declined to comment directly on the criticism but highlighted Engelbert’s business achievements. Since becoming commissioner in 2019 after more than three decades at Deloitte, Engelbert has overseen the league’s navigation through the Covid pandemic and led what the league describes as record financial, attendance and viewership growth. She helped negotiate the 2020 collective bargaining agreement and secured a media rights deal that increased annual revenue from $60 million to $200 million.

Engelbert has also driven a major expansion of the league, adding six new teams. Recent franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia each paid a record $250 million expansion fee. Additional enhancements under her leadership include leaguewide charter flights and upgraded accommodations to five-star hotels in 2024.

Despite these milestones, many players argue that compensation remains disproportionately low compared with their NBA counterparts, especially as the WNBA’s popularity continues to rise. During an Oct. 3 press conference ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Engelbert acknowledged the criticism of her relationship with players and pledged improvements. “If the players don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then I have to do better,” she said.

Basketball hoop on a basketball court | Source: Pexels

Meanwhile, negotiations between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association continue, with a new collective bargaining agreement required before the Nov. 30 deadline.

Her latest comments add significant weight to the growing debate over the league’s direction — and whether new leadership is necessary to rebuild trust with its players.