The story behind Sophie Cunningham’s viral 22-second pointing moment at DeWanna Bonner
The story behind Sophie Cunningham’s viral 22-second pointing moment at DeWanna Bonner
Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner became the focal point of the ongoing trash-talking, with Bonner issuing choice words to Cunningham and pointing at her. Grace Hollars / IndyStar / Reuters
By Brian HamiltonJune 25, 2026 Updated June 26, 2026 8:26 am EDTIf you had any doubts about Sophie Cunningham’s ability to captivate the social media universe, well, the finger is now pointed directly at you.
Maybe most of the discourse in the WNBA this week revolves around her Indiana Fever teammate, Caitlin Clark, and a beef with referees about technical fouls and missed calls. But there was a hilariously saucy spin-off to Monday night’s dust-up involving Clark and Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner: Cunningham once again asserting her place as the center of attention.
A quick recap: In the fourth quarter of the Fever’s eventual 86-77 win over the Mercury, Clark and Bonner got tangled up and exchanged words after referees whistled the play dead. They were separated quickly — Cunningham was one of the first Fever players on the floor to Clark’s side — but emotions didn’t die down.
Moments later, Bonner and Cunningham became the focal point of the ongoing trash-talking, with Bonner issuing choice words to Cunningham and pointing at her. Cunningham maintained eye contact and wordlessly pointed back … and kept pointing … and kept pointing … and kept pointing, for roughly 22 seconds, until a seemingly amused Fever staff member redirected her toward the bench.
Both players received technical fouls for the exchange, but that was hardly the point.
The point was the Internet meme machine taking over.
Me watching the server at Chipotle trying to shake that extra chicken off the serving spoon. https://t.co/6tAguuW5h3
— Mario (@NerfFries) June 25, 2026
*A garbage truck makes a barely audible sound as it lifts a bin several blocks from our house*
My 2 year old:pic.twitter.com/6YKdK3jdYE
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 25, 2026
Cunningham, not surprisingly, has leaned completely into another phenomenon she created, taking selfies with fans while posing and pointing.
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There is some history to consider. Though Bonner wasn’t her teammate in Phoenix — and most of the Mercury roster has changed — Cunningham played for the franchise from 2019-2024. She and Bonner were also briefly teammates last season with the Fever before Bonner left for the Mercury after nine games, and Cunningham criticized Bonner’s exit.
“It’s OK to be professional about it and, like, send a text to your teammates,” Cunningham said on her podcast last year.
Of course, Monday’s game was not the first time Cunningham has been involved in a Clark-related kerfuffle. In 2025, after Clark received an eye poke from then-Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon during a game, Cunningham later hustled back to effectively headlock Sheldon on a layup attempt, a sequence that got both players ejected from the game.
Cunningham also has 1.5 million Instagram followers, co-hosts the “Show Me Something” podcast with Bravo personality West Wilson, appears as a guest analyst during USA Network WNBA broadcasts, has secured endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Quest Nutrition and SHARx and also debuted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue this spring.
In sum? This likely won’t be the last time everyone’s attention is pointed toward her.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
