Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham broke the internet with a single finger. But, according to a Sports Illustrated report, the WNBA union won't let businesses cash in on the moment.
Sophie Cunningham Meme Headlines 'Sports Illustrated' Report
The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) has a blanket policy against monetizing confrontation-coded moments between its members, The Ringer's Seerat Sohi explained on social media. That means the Sophie Cunningham meme, born from last month's heated Fever vs. Mercury game, is off-limits for commercial use.
However, Cunningham can still license the image herself via her personal NIL deals. Though any resulting products may not include the WNBA or WNBPA logo.
The meme started when Caitlin Clark fouled DeWanna Bonner and a chippy exchange followed. Cunningham jumped in and pointed at her former teammate, while Bonner reportedly told her not to point. In response, Cunningham pointed harder.
The Fever guard then rode the wave, appearing on a FIFA World Cup After Hours show with James Corden to talk about it. Still, she doesn't seem eager to monetize the gesture.
"I was a little hungry, a little sassy," Cunningham said. "That's a bad combination for me."
The point may end up on merch eventually, just not through the league.
Where to Watch Fever WNBA Games This Week
In the meantime, Cunningham returns to the court for Indiana when the Fever face the Connecticut Sun tonight at 8 PM ET, live on USA.
