The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) says it will not monetize Sophie Cunningham’s viral gesture made during a late-June scuffle between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury. In the widely shared moment, Cunningham points at DeWanna Bonner as the confrontation unfolds, and the video is further amplified by accounts including a White House post. However, the WNBPA’s policy—described in reporting from The Athletic and echoed by Yahoo Sports—limits licensing and merchandising related to in-union confrontations. Specifically, the union does not create or license apparel that features a confrontation between members of the WNBA Players Association. The policy also restricts the WNBPA’s ability to grant permissions to outside entities to use the image in connection with such conflict-themed merchandise. At the same time, both outlets indicate that Cunningham is not barred from profiting from her viral moment through other avenues that do not involve union-licensed apparel tied directly to an intra-league confrontation. The reports frame the issue as a contractual and policy-driven restriction rather than a response to the attention surrounding the clip.
WNBA Players Association says it won’t license apparel featuring Sophie Cunningham’s gesture
The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) says it will not monetize Sophie Cunningham’s viral gesture made during a late-June scuffle between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury. In the widely shared...
- Sophie Cunningham’s gesture during a late-June Fever–Mercury scuffle goes viral and is widely shared.
- The WNBPA says it will not license or create apparel featuring a confrontation between union members.
- Outside entities also face restrictions on using the confrontation for apparel under the union’s policy.
- The moment is amplified by high-profile reposting, including a White House video post.
- The reports indicate Cunningham may still have monetization options that do not rely on WNBPA-licensed apparel tied to the confrontation.
The image of Sophie Cunningham pointing at DeWanna Bonner during a late-June scuffle between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury is inescapable. Even the White House posted a video featuring Cunningham’s gesture. But don’t expect the WNBA Players Association to get in on the action. The union’s policy, as conveyed to The Athletic, is not to create any apparel that features a confrontation between members of the union. The WNBPA would also not grant an outside entity the right to use the li
10 hours agoThe WNBA's union has a policy not to license any apparel that features a confrontation between members of the union.
10 hours ago
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