Sophie Cunningham Stopped from Monetizing Viral Finger-Pointing Taunt Angers Fans – “This League is a Joke”

Sophie Cunningham drew in another million Instagram followers after her finger-point taunt at DeWanna Bonner went viral.

Sophie Cunningham Stopped from Monetizing Viral Finger-Pointing Taunt Angers Fans – “This League is a Joke”

Sophie Cunningham's viral point (Image via FirstSportz)

When Sophie Cunningham pointed a finger at DeWanna Bonner during their June 22nd home clash against the Phoenix Mercury, all she was trying to do was get back at her former teammate for unnecessarily clashing with Caitlin Clark.

It was in line with how the Missouri native has behaved ever since she arrived at the Indiana Fever. From manhandling Jacy Sheldon to saying whatever she has to opposing players, Cunningham has not only been a true vet for the team, but also has taken the mantle as Clark’s protector.

Every time the 29-year-old has stood up for the superstar point guard, her popularity has shot up. First, she gained over a million followers on Instagram overnight after the Sheldon incident.

Then, after pointing a finger to taunt Bonner, that number grew to over 2.5 million. She happens to be one of the few select players to receive a custom PE from Adidas. Those sorts of deals do not happen to bench players, and Cunningham knows it is time to capitalize on her newfound fame.

She is doing everything she can to sign with whatever brand she finds endearing, but now the WNBPA is trying to put a lock on her effort. Front Office Sports revealed that the players’ union is stopping brands from monetizing Sophie Cunningham’s point.

For licensed apparel, we generally do not feature or look to monetize player conduct from a confrontation between our members.

WNBPA spokesperson told FOS

Several companies and brands used the shooting guard’s point as a meme. Since that was not monetizing the act in any way, neither Cunningham nor the union objected to it. But for anything else, the union will not allow it.

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Fans tear into WNBPA for stopping Sophie Cunningham from monetizing point

The union did clarify to Front Office Sports that Sophie Cunningham could monetize the finger-point herself. That means, as she did at UFC 329, it would not violate the union’s rules.

But if she were to use her likeness, as in if she were wearing her Fever jersey, it could be stopped by the union, as the incident relates to the scuffle between herself and DeWanna Bonner. Even then, fans did not appreciate the union’s efforts to scupper the guard’s chances of making some money for herself.

They pointed out that the action was her own doing, which means she should have the right to do as she pleases. Check out examples of these agitated responses below.

Sophie Cunningham has already started to monetize the act in a way she can think about. As her popularity grows, so will the demand for her merchandise or a chance to meet her. Every time she does, fans want her to enact her finger-point taunt, which proves that the meme has now become a favorite.

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Sophie Cunningham shows no mercy to kids at her basketball camp

One of the after-effects of Sophie Cunningham’s fame has been her ever-increasing popularity among children. The 6’1″ guard and her similarly feisty older sister, Lindsay Cunningham, have been running a basketball camp for years.

Sophie Cunningham's camp was a hit
Sophie Cunningham’s camp was a hit (Image via Scott Agness/X)

However, last year, the registrations saw a massive bump, which led Adidas and other top-tier brands to sponsor her camp. This time, especially after the finger-point taunt, there was an expectation that the number would rise. But little did anyone expect more than 300 of them to come.

I’m gonna try not to block a little kid today.

Sophie Cunningham told reporters

She said this with a smile, which revealed all that the gathered media and others had to know about her intentions. Evidently, their predictions came true when Cunningham kept blocking kids trying to get a shot off.

The Fever star was constantly trolling them, which was her way of staying true to the character that has now become her defining presence. No wonder they were still smiling when the camp was over.

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