“I’ve talked to Adam Silver about it a lot… Players feel comfortable and confident going up to him.” Sabrina Ionescu is not trying to stir controversy, but make a statement. The New York Liberty star came to share her thoughts about the league’s leadership, and she stood her ground without hesitation, even naming names.

For those keeping an eye on the ongoing collective bargaining discussions, this is a clear warning. Ionescu is now in her fifth season with the WNBA, and she’s stepping up as a player representative. In many ways, her timing is perfect. The current CBA, signed in 2020, is now up for review. But this time, Ionescu is not accepting the terms. She is helping to write it.

That role has taken her to the table and in some cases, to the cameras. When asked about how often she interacts with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, her answer was telling. Rarely. Her relationship with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, however, was described as regular and open. She wants a similar approach with Cathy Engelbert. “We need to be able to be in the room with Cathy and talk to her and her leadership group about what we want,” she said.

Ionescu’s comments were less about contract language and more about presence, closeness, and trust. The league has never been more visible. Viewership is soaring, social media engagement is increasing, and the stars are now well-known figures. However, for many players, this attention hasn’t always come with influence or access.

“Players feel like they can walk up to Silver at events. We don’t have that same comfort with Cathy.” This suggests that visibility without connection can feel like an empty gesture. Ionescu said that Engelbert isn’t regularly present at games or events in the way Silver is, and in a league still battling with unequal pay, exhausting travel, and limited marketing resources, the lack of communication only widens the gap.

That leadership gap has only sharpened as more players take ownership of the league’s future, on and off the court. The WNBA has had its share of labor struggles before, but this new wave of activism led by voices like Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart feels like a generational shift. “Some of the stuff we’re demanding is life-changing if you’re going to play 10, 15 years. It’s important to set new standards. We’re not going to take the bare minimum.” Ionescu said. It’s not dollars they’re fighting for. It’s the structure, charter flights, healthcare, offseason security, and respect.

Sabrina Ionescu is Saying What Every WNBA Star Feels, And Also Suggested A Big Change In The League

Sabrina Ionescu, whose husband played in the NFL, made comparisons to how the NFLPA negotiates. “We’re at that point where we can demand what the NFLPA has demanded… we’re seeing the results in viewership and revenue.” So, what happens if negotiations hit an obstacle?

“A lockout’s happened in almost every sport. Whatever is necessary is going to happen.” Her hope is for progress. She wants open conversations and face-to-face meetings instead of emails and digital exchanges that often feel impersonal and lack urgency. Even Napheesa Collier echoed similar sentiments, as she added, “No one wants a lockout, but I think we have to stand firm in what we think we deserve in this new CBA.” Even Satou Sablly didn’t mince words when she said the new NBA CBA draft was a “slap in the face.”

Sabrina Ionescu presented another idea midway through the press session, suggesting a drastic change for the league. “I don’t feel like we should be playing in the summer.” She reasoned that engagement is split across sports, rookies barely get rest, and summer ball doesn’t align with the traditional basketball beat. “What other league throws college players right into playing two, three weeks after a national championship?” she questioned. She finds that pretty wild, and she proposes to align the WNBA schedule more closely with the NBA, running from fall to spring.

Ionescu credits Stewart for guiding her into this role. “I’ve learned a lot,” she said. Now, she sees herself as a bridge close enough in age to relate to the rookies, experienced enough to speak for the veterans. The message is maturing with the messenger. While she may not have meant to create a line between Silver and Engelbert, her words have added pressure to a league in change. Just this week, Ionescu went viral for a heartwarming moment with a young fan, a reminder that leadership off the court often mirrors presence on it. The WNBA is expanding at an incredible pace, but to keep that momentum, it needs to truly listen to the voices that are carrying the weight of this growth.