WNBA Makes It Clear That They Want No Part Of Sophie Cunningham’s Viral On-Court Moment
This is a big blow for the Fever star.
Sophie Cunningham has turned into one of the WNBA’s biggest off-court stories this season, but the league’s players’ union just drew a line on how far that moment can go commercially.
Cunningham is in the middle of one of the best stretches of her eight-year career, averaging 9.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field for the 15-10 Indiana Fever. Her play has helped keep Indiana firmly in the playoff picture. Still, most people know her right now for something that happened off the stat sheet entirely.
Sophie Cunningham’s Viral Point Won’t Show Up On Official Merch
Sophie Cunningham. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
During Indiana’s heated June 24 win over the Phoenix Mercury, Cunningham locked eyes with former teammate DeWanna Bonner and silently pointed at her for 22 straight seconds after Bonner told her to stop. The image exploded across social media and helped Cunningham add nearly a million Instagram followers in a single month.
Despite the moment’s popularity, the WNBPA announced this week that official licensees won’t be allowed to sell merchandise using the image. The union told Front Office Sports it generally avoids monetizing “player conduct from a confrontation between our members.”
That means brands like 2K, Panini, Lids and BreakingT can’t put the pointing image on official products. However, Cunningham herself remains free to license it independently through her own NIL rights.
Sophie Cunningham Keeps Leaning Into The Moment Anyway
Sophie Cunningham (Photo via Imagn Images)
The ruling doesn’t seem to have slowed Cunningham down. She’s continued embracing the meme everywhere she goes, including recreating the pose with UFC star Max Holloway during UFC 329 in Las Vegas earlier this month. She’s also brushed off questions about how big the moment has become.
“I think everyone around the world is posting it,” Cunningham told reporters earlier this month. “I didn’t really think twice about it.”
The incident itself started with a minor scuffle that spiraled quickly. Technical fouls piled up for multiple players from both teams before order was restored. However, Cunningham’s deadpan stare toward Bonner became the moment everyone remembered.
For now, it’s unclear whether Cunningham plans to pursue independent deals around the image, according to Front Office Sports. What is clear is that her viral gesture has already done more for her public profile in one season than most players manage in a career, union restrictions or not.
