WNBA team the Phoenix Mercury have sparked outrage on social media after staging a photoshoot that some fans believe is racially insensitive.
During the league’s offseason, Phoenix carried out a shoot with three of their players to build some excitement after fixtures for the 2025 campaign were released earlier this week.
The marketing stunt involves guards Kahleah Copper, Sophie Cunningham and Natasha Cloud performing some bizarre poses together while dressed in matching black roll-neck sweaters, light-blue jeans and white socks – yet one of the poses has caused major controversy.
The photo in question shows Cunningham sitting on Copper as her African American teammate lays on the floor with her feet up, which has led to accusations of racism online.
‘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.
Another put: ‘Somebody on the Phoenix Mercury content creation/social media team needs to be fired before end of business tomorrow’.
WNBA fans have accused the Phoenix Mercury of racism towards Kahleah Copper (pictured)
A third fumed: ‘DONT P*** ME OFF BRO! who approved this pose and why is that lady on my sister? why is my girls hair touching the floor…yall shady for this’.
‘Type of racist s*** is this?’ asked a fourth.
While one simply wrote: ‘This feels racist.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Phoenix Mercury for comment.
Copper is gearing up for her second season with the Mercury after being traded from the Chicago Sky ahead of the 2024 season.
In her debut campaign, the 30-year-old helped Phoenix reach the first round of the WNBA playoffs, where they were beaten by the Minnesota Lynx.
