The core issue is glaring: former players aren’t being given enough opportunities in top WNBA roles, either on the sideline or within the league’s leadership. And this is exactly the kind of trend that deserves a closer look and a push for change.
Five WNBA teams appointed new head coaches after the 2025 season, yet just one of those openings went to a former player. Toronto Tempo made a standout choice with Sandy Brondello, a coach whose résumé already marks her as one of the league’s most accomplished minds. The only other ex-players stepping into head coaching slots are Stephanie White and Becky Hammon.
Many fans debate the broader pattern: if coaching openings exist, why aren’t more former players, and in particular more Black women, being elevated to these high-profile roles? Names like Briann January, Kristy Toliver, and Lindsey Harding come to mind as qualified candidates who could have stepped into bigger leadership duties.
But White isn’t stopping at coaching chairs alone. She advocates for former players to hold executive positions as GMs and team presidents, and even to take seats in the Commissioner’s office. On Sue Bird’s Bird’s Eye View podcast, she explained the value of hiring someone who brings an intimate, ongoing connection to the league’s culture and progress, rather than simply prioritizing a familiar name. The aim is to ensure the league continues to move the needle while staying true to its core values and mission .
The WNBA already has several former players serving as GMs:
- Raegan Pebley joined the Sparks in 2024 after stints with the Utah Starzz and Cleveland Rockers in the league’s earlier years.
- Jamila Wideman, now the Mystics’ GM, previously wore the Sparks, Rockers, Fire, and Sun jerseys.
- Monica Wright, Toronto Tempo’s GM, was a top-10 pick in the 2010 draft and earned two titles with the Lynx.
- Morgan Tuck, GM of the Sun, played from 2016–2020 and capped her run with a title with the Storm.
This conversation isn’t new. After a notably charged press conference where Napheesa Collier labeled Commissioner Cathy Engelbert as having among the worst leadership in the world, fans and players alike signaled that leadership changes could be on the horizon. Even with a new CBA looming, the rift between the players and the Commissioner’s office feels serious, hinting that fresh leadership—potentially including former players—could be in the cards .
Many current players bring impressive business experience to the table. Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart co-founded Unrivaled; A’ja Wilson runs a candle line; Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Angel Reese have launched apparel ventures; Caitlin Clark and several of her peers juggle numerous brand partnerships. Such entrepreneurial backgrounds position players as strong candidates for roles like GMs, team presidents, or senior executives in the Commissioner’s office. That said, several former players already excel outside the court too: Lisa Leslie operates a real estate firm, while Candace Parker runs a production company, contributed to Project B, and serves as president of Adidas Women’s Basketball, all while maintaining a thriving broadcasting career.
Ultimately, the conversation centers on whether the WNBA can broaden its leadership pipeline to include more former players, especially those from underrepresented groups, and how those leaders can shape the league’s future. The question remains: should the league actively prioritize former players for executive roles to ensure leadership reflects the game’s players and fans, or should decisions be based solely on traditional credentials and business acumen? And what steps should be taken to accelerate this transition without sacrificing merit and performance?
