WNBPA bans official licensees from monetising Sophie Cunningham’s viral pointing gesture
While the league’s governing body restricts group licensing partners from profiting from player confrontations, individual athletes retain the right to capitalise on their own likeness.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has formally prohibited its official licensees from utilising Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s viral pointing gesture, classifying the moment as derogatory. The directive follows a report by sports business reporter Darren Rovell, who confirmed on Monday that the association is actively blocking partners from monetising the image. The gesture originated during a June 22 match against the Phoenix Mercury, where Cunningham pointed at teammate DeWanna Bonner amid a verbal altercation that resulted in five technical fouls.
In a statement to Front Office Sports, a WNBPA spokesperson clarified the association’s stance on commercialising on-court behaviour. The body noted that for licensed apparel, it generally does not feature or seek to monetise player conduct arising from confrontations between members. This policy applies to the WNBPA’s group licensing agreements with partners including NBA 2K, Fathead, Lids, New Era, and Panini, which permit the use of players’ name, image, and likeness without individual negotiation, subject to specific content limitations.
Despite the institutional restriction, the association confirmed that individual players remain free to create and license their own products. Cunningham has not attempted to monetise the pointing meme herself, choosing instead to engage with its cultural penetration. The gesture has transcended social media, appearing on Bill Simmons’ podcast, being recreated by UFC fighter Dione Barbosa, and becoming a requested photo opportunity for attendees at Cunningham’s recent children’s camp.
Cunningham addressed the incident on her podcast, "Show Me Something," describing the gesture as an impulsive reaction to a referee’s decision during the dispute with Bonner and fellow Fever star Caitlin Clark. She characterised the moment as a mistake, stating, "I was just kind of pointing, and she was like, 'Don't you point at me.' I was like, 'Oh, shouldn't have said that.' So stupid. Like, that is the stupidest thing I've ever done."
The current prohibition stands in contrast to a previous incident involving Cunningham during the 2021 WNBA Finals. While playing for the Phoenix Mercury, she was involved in a confrontation with then-Chicago Sky guard Kahleah Copper. Copper subsequently sold a "Never Forget Tee" featuring the moment, a product Cunningham publicly encouraged at the time. The merchandise is no longer available for sale, highlighting the evolving landscape of player likeness rights and institutional governance within the league.
