Incident during Saturday’s game
DiJonai Carrington of the Chicago Sky was ejected from Saturday’s game following a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever. The incident occurred in the first quarter when Cunningham was attempting a fast-break layup. Carrington approached from behind, making contact with Cunningham’s head and neck, which caused Cunningham to fall to the court.
Following the foul, Cunningham immediately rose and moved towards Carrington, pushing her before being restrained by a teammate. The play underwent a review, after which the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2. The referee cited a windup, impact, and follow-through as factors in the decision to upgrade the foul.
Shortly after her ejection, Carrington posted the words “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media, tagging the Fever. It was not immediately clear whether the post referred to Cunningham, the officiating decision, or the Fever organization.
Cunningham’s stance and related discussions
Cunningham, who is white, has been a prominent figure this season, often defending teammate Caitlin Clark after physical play from opponents. She has also publicly supported policies that would bar transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. This stance has led to protests and rallies outside Fever games in cities such as Seattle and Portland.
In a memo issued to teams on Friday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert indicated that the league plans to continue discussions regarding transgender participation in women’s basketball. Cunningham has stated that she does not harbor animosity towards transgender individuals but believes in protecting girls and women in sports.
The collision involving Carrington unfolded amidst ongoing political discussions surrounding Cunningham. Supporters gathered for a fourth rally outside the venue of a Fever road game on Saturday, with counterprotesters also present near the United Center. A rally for Cunningham is also scheduled before the Fever‘s August 22 game against the New York Liberty.
Previous interactions and league context
Carrington and the Fever have a history of contentious interactions. During the 2024 season, Carrington mocked Caitlin Clark, suggesting she was flopping, and later described Indiana supporters as “the nastiest fans in the W” after experiencing racist abuse online. Carrington also struck Clark in the eye during a defensive play in the 2024 playoffs, resulting in a black eye for the Fever star. Both players described the contact as accidental, though Carrington later faced renewed criticism after appearing to joke about the incident in an Instagram Live video.
Carrington has addressed accusations of playing dirty, maintaining that her style is aggressive and that she always aims to make a play on the ball. Beyond basketball, she has drawn attention for wearing an anti-President Donald Trump sweatshirt and encouraging WNBA players to oppose policies from the Trump administration affecting women and the LGBTQ community.
In a separate incident during Saturday’s game, Fever star Caitlin Clark received a technical foul in the third quarter after making contact with a referee when forced out of bounds. This technical foul was Clark’s eighth of the season, which triggers a one-game suspension for Indiana‘s next game.
Source: theguardian.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.