Sky’s Carrington Ejected for Flagrant Foul on Fever’s Cunningham, Posts on Social Media

DiJonai Carrington of the Chicago Sky received an ejection Saturday following a Flagrant 2 foul assessment against Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever. The incident occurred during the opening quarter when Carrington struck Cunningham in the head and neck area from behind as Cunningham attempted a fast-break layup, sending her to the floor despite the shot going through the basket.

Cunningham responded by immediately rising and pushing Carrington before being restrained by a teammate. Officials reviewed the contact and determined an upgrade to Flagrant 2 was warranted based on the windup, impact, and follow-through involved in the foul. Shortly after her ejection, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media and tagged the Fever account.

The confrontation was not the only disciplinary action of the afternoon. In the third quarter, Fever standout Caitlin Clark was charged with a technical foul after contact with a referee while being forced out of bounds, marking her eighth technical of the season and triggering a mandatory one-game suspension for Indiana’s upcoming contest.

Cunningham has garnered increased visibility this season as a prominent figure in the league and vocal supporter of various causes. Last month, an ESPN article featured her expressing opposition to transgender girls and women competing in women’s sports, resulting in small demonstrations outside Fever games in Seattle and Portland. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a memo to teams Friday stating the league would continue discussions regarding transgender participation in women’s basketball.