Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason has voiced strong opinions regarding a recent incident in the WNBA involving DiJonai Carrington of the Chicago Sky and Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever. The controversy stems from a hard foul during a game on August 8, followed by Carrington’s social media post.
During the first quarter of the Chicago Sky–Indiana Fever contest, Carrington committed a hard foul on Cunningham. Following a video review on the court, the foul was ruled a Flagrant 2, leading to Carrington’s automatic ejection from the game. This type of foul is considered a serious infraction in basketball.
Shortly after her ejection, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Instagram Threads, tagging the Indiana Fever. This post appeared to suggest that her ejection was influenced by racial factors, given that Carrington is a Black woman and Cunningham is a white woman. Esiason, speaking on his ‘Boomer and Gio’ radio show, questioned the intent and impact of such a post. He asked his co-host, Gregg Giannotti, how people are expected to react to such a statement, calling it “stupid.”
Esiason further speculated that the incident might have been a “targeted attack.” He alluded to the “jealous nature” or “legitimate hatred for somebody because of what they believe in and because of what they look like and because of how popular they are.” Giannotti concurred with Esiason’s assessment, stating that he believed most people would agree it was a targeted action.
The incident has drawn comparisons to other physical plays in basketball, such as Charlotte Hornets guard Grayson Allen‘s foul on then-Bulls guard Alex Caruso during the 2021-22 NBA season. Allen’s foul, which also resulted in a Flagrant 2 and ejection, led to a one-game suspension. However, the discussion surrounding Carrington’s foul has extended beyond basketball, becoming a politicized moment within the WNBA.
Many WNBA players have expressed a desire for the league to focus on basketball rather than political issues. Cunningham herself has commented on the media’s tendency to cover everything except the game. She previously received negative feedback after publicly stating her belief that women should not have to compete against biological men. Cunningham clarified that she aims to extend love and truth, and wishes to protect young girls in sports from competing against biological men. She described her views as being “very much in the middle,” agreeing and disagreeing with aspects on both sides, despite assumptions made by others.
A poll conducted in March 2025 by a New York publication indicated that 79% of Americans believe men should be barred from competing in women’s sports. This broader societal discussion provides context for the heightened attention on such statements within the sports world.
The WNBA has historically embraced advocacy for social issues. However, as players become more prominent public figures, their public stances often lead to public responses. This dynamic means that when athletes use their platforms for non-basketball related topics, the news cycle will reflect those discussions.
The league’s leadership has also been involved in discussions surrounding these issues. In response to increased conversations about transgender women in the WNBA, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a memo to team presidents, general managers, and coaches. The memo emphasized the need for integrity and respect in approaching the topic, but did not clarify the league’s stance on trans athletes competing. A task force is scheduled to discuss the matter in an upcoming meeting.
Carrington played in the Sky‘s next game on Monday, which was the team’s first contest since the incident. She scored 26 points in 27 minutes during her team’s 97-88 loss to the Seattle Storm.
Source: foxnews.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.