DiJonai Carrington, a guard for the Sky, was ejected from a game against the Fever on Saturday after committing a Flagrant 2 foul on Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham. The incident occurred just three minutes into the game. Following her ejection, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads and tagged the Fever.
Carrington’s social media post prompted a response from Sophie Cunningham, who stated that the incident had nothing to do with race. Cunningham noted that she had been ejected for a similar flagrant foul in the previous season and believed Carrington’s foul was intentional and done for attention. Cunningham also indicated that the league was addressing the matter.
Incident and immediate reactions
The foul involved Carrington making contact with Cunningham above the neck as Cunningham went up for a transition layup. Officials deemed the contact severe enough to warrant a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection for Carrington. After being ejected, Carrington went to the locker room and made the social media post.
When asked about Carrington’s post, Sky coach Tyler Marsh stated he was unaware of it at the time. He indicated that the team would address the situation. Carrington was not available to reporters after the game, but both she and Marsh are expected to face questions regarding the incident when the Sky play the Storm on Monday.
This incident is not the first time Carrington has been involved in controversy. During the 2024 postseason, she struck Caitlin Clark in the eye, which resulted in a visible black eye for the star player. Carrington later mocked the public outrage that followed this incident online. This recent event marks another instance of a dangerous play involving Carrington leading to controversy.
Media commentary and player safety
Following Saturday’s incident, some media outlets offered explanations for Carrington’s actions. For example, analyst Andraya Carter on ESPN described the hit as a product of Carrington’s aggressive style of play. Carter explained that Carrington typically makes an effort to get transition blocks by jumping over offensive players. She acknowledged that Carrington was behind the play and that the contact above the head was excessive, but attributed it to Carrington’s characteristic play style.
Carter’s analysis suggested that while the contact was too much, it was consistent with how Carrington plays. This perspective has been noted as part of a broader pattern where physical aggression directed at white players, such as Cunningham or Caitlin Clark, sometimes leads to commentators seeking explanations that soften the actions of the player who committed the foul. Conversely, the response is often different when circumstances are reversed.
The situation highlights ongoing discussions about player safety and media scrutiny in the league. There is a view that player safety should not depend on who delivers a hit, and media scrutiny should not be influenced by the racial identities of the players involved. The league has not yet issued a public comment regarding Carrington’s post or the incident.
Previous incidents and team perspectives
Sophie Cunningham referenced a similar flagrant foul she committed in the previous season against Sky guard Jacy Sheldon, which was in defense of Caitlin Clark. Cunningham acknowledged the parallel between her past action and Carrington’s recent foul, but maintained that Carrington had no reason to get involved in the way she did. Sheldon, for her part, stated before the game that Cunningham’s foul from last season did not linger with her or the team, emphasizing their focus on scouting and the game itself.
Sky center Elizabeth Williams recalled Sheldon being booed when the Sky played the Fever in Indiana. Williams noted that while they joke about such incidents, the team always supports its members. The incident on Saturday, and Carrington’s subsequent social media post, are expected to be further discussed as the Sky prepare to play the Storm.
Source: foxnews.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.