New York Liberty star and WNBPA executive committee vice president Breanna Stewart has recently shared a candid assessment of her relationship with outgoing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

According to Stewart, there is respect between the two sides but little personal connection.

“Obviously you have to have the business side of things under wraps,” Stewart said via The Athletic. “But also there is a personable side that players want. You … want the next commissioner to really own that in growing the relationship with players. And I wouldn’t say Cathy didn’t. I just think she didn’t do it right away.”

The relationship between Engelbert and the players has also been tested by this year’s collective bargaining negotiations. Breanna Stewart was part of the union leadership involved in those talks, which eventually produced a landmark agreement that included the league’s first million-dollar player salaries.

Engelbert announced earlier this month that she will retire at the end of 2026 after more than seven years as commissioner.

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Stewart later praised the outgoing commissioner’s overall impact on the league, saying, “What she’s done for the league is incredible,” while acknowledging that the CBA negotiations had been difficult.

The tension comes as the WNBA deals with an increasingly complicated public environment. Players have faced online harassment, and disputes involving race, gender, and sexuality have increasingly surrounded the league.

Some players have also argued that league leadership needs to do more to protect them and address those issues directly.

Engelbert has defended the league’s response, saying online attacks against players are unacceptable and pointing to initiatives designed to protect athletes. She has also said the league has no current eligibility issue involving transgender athletes and that any future policy question would involve discussions with the players’ association.