Restrictions on Official Merchandise
The viral image of Sophie Cunningham pointing at DeWanna Bonner, which became a significant sports meme over the past month, will not be appearing on official league-licensed products. According to reports from industry insiders, the WNBPA has moved to block its business partners from profiting off the gesture, which the union reportedly characterized as “derogatory.”
When approached for clarification, a WNBPA spokesperson explained the organization's policy regarding player conduct: “For licensed apparel, we generally do not feature or look to monetize player conduct from a confrontation between our members.” This decision impacts a wide range of official partners, including companies like Panini, Lids, Breaking T, and 2K.
Individual Licensing Rights Remain Intact
While the union is restricting its corporate partners, Cunningham retains full autonomy over her own image rights. The WNBPA confirmed that players remain free to pursue independent business ventures.
“Players are of course free to create and/or license their own product,” the union stated. Under current agreements, while the union manages group licensing, individual athletes can still enter into private sponsorship deals with brands, even if those brands are also union partners. Additionally, any entity wishing to utilize official WNBA logos or branding would still require league approval, separate from the union’s stance on the specific image.
Context of the Viral Incident
The incident occurred during a June 24 matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever. Tensions flared on the court between Cunningham and Bonner, both former teammates, following a previous altercation in the same game where Alyssa Thomas was involved in a physical play against Caitlin Clark.
Since the incident, the moment has transcended basketball culture. It has been shared by celebrities, professional athletes, and even an official White House social media account. Cunningham, who has seen her Instagram following grow by nearly a million since the event, remains unfazed by the widespread usage of the clip:
“I think everyone around the world is posting it. Every company has done it. They're just the one to also get on board, and so I didn't really think twice about it. I think they're just another group who is posting about it.”
As of now, it remains unconfirmed if Cunningham has secured any personal commercial agreements to capitalize on the viral popularity of the gesture.