WNBA star Sophie Cunningham hit with 'crazy' fine for viral social media post amid pay dispute

The WNBA has been making the headlines in recent weeks due to a dispute over equal pay.

Players competing in the WNBA All-Star game caught the eye after wearing black t-shirts with the message 'pay us what you owe us' on the front.

The apparel was worn after the stars of the league and the league itself failed to come to an agreement on how much the athletes should be earning.

According to CNBC, a WNBA player can earn anywhere between $66,079 and $249,244, although that does not include other sources of income, such as endorsements.

However, some players have claimed that it is not even enough to cover their rent and bills.

In the latest twist to this dramatic conflict, Sophie Cunningham has taken a veiled jab at the league on social media.

It came after she claimed she was fined $500 for posting a TikTok on her personal account.

The TikTok was set to Sabrina Carpenter’s UK Number One ‘Manchild’, which is regularly used to suggest that the person it is about is stupid or slow.

The caption of the post read: “@ some refs,” insinuating that it they were the target of the insult.

However, the WNBA did not find it so funny, and the Indiana Fever star revealed that she was punished for the post.

“I got fined $500 for this TikTok,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Idk [I don’t know] why this is funny to me…

“Like ok you got it bud!

“Cause there’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now.”

Cunningham joined The Fever in January, having previously played for the Phoenix Mercury and Australian side Melbourne Boomers.

Players in the men’s league, the NBA, have been known to earn millions of dollars a year.

However, the WNBA is reportedly losing money and has never turned a profit in its 28-year history.

The league’s profile has grown significantly in recent seasons though, thanks in part to the impact of big-name stars like Caitlin Clark.

At just 23-years-old, the Indiana Fever point guard is already a two-time WNBA All-Star, having been selected in 2024 and 2025.