Sophie Cunningham can monetize her viral pointing meme that the White House has even used — but the WNBA cannot get a piece of the pie.
With just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Indiana Fever’s 86-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury last month, DeWanna Bonner got tangled up with Caitlin Clark while trying to gain position in the paint. Once officials blew the play dead, the star guard began emphatically clapping toward Phoenix’s bench while voicing her disapproval of the call.
Officials subsequently issued Clark a technical foul for “instigating/taunting behavior during an escalating confrontation.” But as referees struggled to contain the situation, Cunningham further escalated the heated exchange by pointing toward Bonner, who descended into a fit of rage.
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As a result, an internet meme was born. The clip of Cunningham pointing was reshared across social media, and the White House even attempted to get in on the fun by combining it with footage of Donald Trump pointing at a camera, giving a thumbs-up, and smirking.
Cunningham can earn royalties from this viral moment. She can use her own likeness however she chooses, which means the 29-year-old can use produce shirts or any other piece of merchandise that depicts her point — as long as they don’t include the WNBA or WNBA Players Association logo.
However, the WNBA and WNBPA will be unable to get in on the action. The WNBPA’s policy is not to create any apparel that depicts a confrontation between union members.
The WNBPA would also not grant an outside entity the right to use the likeness of that event.
This means the league will not profit from the moment, nor will any WNBA licensees, as the point is a clash between Cunningham and Bonner.
Sophie Cunningham’s point has now become a viral meme -Credit:X @Sudharsan_ak
There is precedent for this before. In 2021, Kahleah Copper produced shirts of her staring down an opponent during the WNBA Finals.
Remarkably, Copper was staring down Cunningham, but it meant that the guard could profit while the WNBA could not.
It’s unclear what Cunningham will do next with the pointing clip.
During her appearance on ‘FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours with James Corden,’ Corden asked her what she’s thinking of doing next with it, and Cunningham said: “I didn’t even give that thought.”
Cunningham has a large social media profile. She boasts 1.5 million Instagram followers, co-hosts the ‘Show Me Something’ podcast with Bravo personality West Wilson, appears as a guest analyst during USA Network WNBA broadcasts, and has secured endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Quest Nutrition, and SHARx.
She also debuted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue this spring.
