Why WNBA Union Won’t Monetize Viral Sophie Cunningham Incident 

July 20, 2026

The WNBPA is blocking licensees from using Sophie Cunningham’s viral pointing meme, calling the gesture “derogatory” and saying it won’t monetize player conduct from on-court confrontations. However, Cunningham can still personally cash in on the moment through her own name, image, and likeness deals, including with brands that are union partners, as individual sponsorships sit outside the union’s group licensing decisions. Any use of team logos or league marks would still require separate approval from the WNBA itself. FOS