The WNBA has denied claims that it has banned Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham from pointing at other players, deeming the gesture racially derogatory.
A social media post circulating on X claimed that the WNBA had informed Cunningham she could no longer point as it had been deemed a racially derogatory statement. The post also alleged that Cunningham was barred from selling merchandise featuring her viral pointing moment.
However, a fact-checking investigation found no evidence to support these claims. The WNBA did give both Cunningham and Phoenix Mercury player DeWanna Bonner a foul after the incident during the June 22, 2026, game, but there has been no official statement released by the WNBA saying Cunningham is banned from the move.
The rules regarding merchandise for individual players are determined by the WNBPA. According to The Athletic, individual players can use their own likeness however they choose, provided they do not include the WNBA or WNBPA logo.
The claim appears to be a baseless accusation, with no evidence to support the notion that the WNBA has banned Cunningham from pointing or selling merchandise. The incident, which occurred during a game against the Phoenix Mercury, has been widely reported, but there has been no official statement from the WNBA regarding a ban on Cunningham's pointing gesture.
The WNBPA policy on merchandise is that it does not create any apparel that features a confrontation between members of the union. Nor would it grant an outside entity the right to use the likeness of that event, meaning neither the WNBA nor WNBA licensees can create merchandise from the incident.
Cunningham is not under any such restriction, and individual players can use their own likeness however they choose. The WNBA's denial of the claims suggests that Cunningham is free to continue pointing and selling merchandise featuring her viral moment.
The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some users defending the WNBA's decision and others accusing the organization of censorship. However, the facts suggest that Cunningham is not being censored, and the WNBA has not banned her from pointing or selling merchandise.
The WNBA has not commented further on the matter, but it appears that Cunningham is free to continue using her pointing gesture and selling merchandise featuring her viral moment.
Source: Yahoo Sports