Sophie Cunningham’s viral pointing gesture during a June 24, 2026 WNBA game against the Indiana Fever has become a widely recognized meme in sports circles. Despite its popularity on social media and usage by celebrities, other athletes, and even an official White House account, the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) is actively preventing its official partners from monetizing the image. The union described the gesture as “derogatory” and has barred licensees from using it in products, aiming not to capitalize on player conduct stemming from confrontations.

The WNBPA works with numerous licensed brands such as video game giant 2K, apparel companies Breaking T and Lids, and sports card manufacturer Panini, all under a group licensing agreement that allows these brands to utilize players’ names, images, and likenesses without individual negotiations. While the union can block these partners from using Cunningham’s pointing image, this restriction does not extend to Cunningham herself. Individual players retain control of their own name, image, and likeness rights, meaning Cunningham could personally license the viral moment with any brand, including those partnered with the union.

The viral point originated during a heated on-court incident involving Cunningham and former teammate DeWanna Bonner from their time with the Indiana Fever. The game also featured contentious plays involving Fever star Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas, which heightened tensions. Cunningham has since embraced the moment, appearing as a guest ring girl at UFC 329 and seeing her social media following soar by nearly a million followers since the incident. The image has transcended basketball, becoming a cultural reference widely shared across various platforms.

While the WNBPA’s decision reflects a stance against monetizing a confrontational act between players, it acknowledges the players’ individual rights and does not limit Cunningham’s ability to capitalize on her personal brand. The WNBA league itself controls usage of team logos and branding, separate from the union’s licensing authority. As of now, it remains unclear if Cunningham has entered any commercial agreements related to the viral pointing moment, with neither her representatives nor the league providing immediate comments on the matter.