Fans have expressed outrage on social media after WNBA team Phoenix Mercury shared photos from a promotional photoshoot that has been deemed by many as insensitive and ‘racist’.
The shoot which featured guards Kahleah Copper, Sophie Cunningham and Natasha Cloud, was designed to build some excitement after the 2025 WNBA schedule was released.
In the photos, the players were dressed in matching black turtlenecks, light-blue jeans, and white socks as they made their various striking poses.
However, one image has drawn significant criticism online as it shows white athlete Cunningham sitting on Copper, who happens to be her Black teammate.
Copper lies on the floor with her legs raised, and the pose from the team has received backlash on social media with many fans labelling the image insensitive and disrespectful.
“There is not a situation on this earth where a white woman should be sitting on a Black woman like a piece of furniture,” one user said on X.
We've already asked our boss if we can frame these in the practice facility pic.twitter.com/33l8pLXQ6n
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) December 2, 2024
Another user demanded accountability from the team for the ‘racist’ photoshoot, commenting: “Somebody on the Phoenix Mercury content creation/social media team needs to be fired before end of business tomorrow.”
Others have been equally outraged and do not understand why the idea was implemented.
“DONT P*** ME OFF BRO! Who approved this pose and why is that lady on my sister? Why is my girl’s hair touching the floor…y’all shady for this,” one comment read. Another asked, “Type of racist s*** is this?”. “This feels racist.”
Though there have been widespread calls for an explanation, the Phoenix Mercury has yet to comment on the viral controversy.
The incident has also since sparked a larger discussion about cultural sensitivity in sports marketing and how teams should be held responsible for the perception of their promotional materials.
30-year-old guard Kahleah Copper is preparing for her second season with the Mercury after being traded from the Chicago Sky before the 2024 season.
In her debut with Phoenix, she helped the team reach the first round of the WNBA playoffs, where they got eliminated by the Minnesota Lynx.
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Copper will however be far from focused on the noise surrounding the WNBA team’s ‘racist’ photoshoot, aiming to have a stellar season for her side.
