Sophie Cunningham’s finger-pointing meme has taken on a life of its own. It has gotten to the point where even the players association has had to step in.
On Monday, business analyst Darren Rovell reported that the WNBPA is “prohibiting licensees from using the Sophie point, saying that it is ‘derogatory.'” A WNBPA spokesperson would confirm this development with Front Office Sports.
“”For licensed apparel, we generally do not feature or look to monetize player conduct from a confrontation between our members.”
Front Office Sports would also confirm that Cunningham can choose to “independently license the moment.”
As for the “confrontation” cited by the WNBPA, it should be noted that the Cunningham meme originated from a tense situation during a Fever-Mercury game on June 22. When Cunningham’s teammate Myisha Hines-Allen and Mercury star Alyssa Thomas got whistled for technical fouls during a squabble, the Fever guard pointed at DeWanna Bonner as if to indicate that Bonner too should get a tech.
Cunningham’s pointing gesture soon went viral, with netizens using her image for a variety of humorous contexts. The White House tweeted their own version of the finger-pointing meme, and this past weekend, UFC competitor Dione Barbosa did the Cunningham finger point after she won her fight.
“It’s Okay to Be Feisty”: Sophie Cunningham Sends Message of Empowerment at Her Basketball Camp
Aside from being an internet sensation, Sophie Cunningham has a host of side ventures when she’s not suiting up for the Fever.
This past Sunday, Cunningham hosted the “Simple Truth” youth basketball camp at Carmel, Indiana. Speaking to reporters at this camp, the Fever guard had a message of empowerment to deliver to young women.
“It’s okay to be feisty. It’s okay to be sassy. It’s okay to go out there, work hard and sweat, but also be girly if you want.”
For Cunningham, whose impact on the court goes beyond the stat sheets, the message of working hard and sweating things out is perfectly on brand.
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