WNBA union blocks official use of Cunningham’s viral point

The WNBA Players Association has blocked its official business partners from using the viral image of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham pointing at Phoenix Mercury veteran DeWanna Bonner, deeming the gesture derogatory. The decision, reported on July 20, prevents licensed apparel companies from creating merchandise featuring the moment, which originated during a heated on-court confrontation between the two players in a game on June 24.

The union confirmed its policy against monetizing player conduct stemming from confrontations between its members. In a statement, the league said that for licensed apparel, it generally does not feature or look to monetize such interactions. This means brands with group licensing agreements, which include companies like 2K, Breaking T, Lids, and Panini, cannot produce official merchandise depicting the pointed finger.

Despite the union's stance, Cunningham retains full control over her own Name, Image, and Likeness rights. She is free to independently license the gesture, sign personal endorsement deals, and create merchandise featuring it, provided she does not use official WNBA or team logos. The union acknowledged that players are free to...