Just when controversy surrounding Indiana Fever guard and WNBA star Sophie Cunningham seemed to be dying down, it ramped right back up again on Saturday, Aug. 8, but for a different reason.
During the first quarter of the Fever‘s 90-86 win over the Chicago Sky, Cunningham was the victim of a hard foul from guard DiJonai Carrington while going up for a layup.
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The term “hard foul” might be giving Carrington too much credit, though, as the Sky guard basically clotheslined Cunningham mid-air, which amounted to a dangerous play.
Cunningham was obviously upset with Carrington, who was given a Flagrant 2 and ejected, and had to be restrained.
WNBA: Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) fights with Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (7) after she was fouled during the first half at United Center. (Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
After the game, Cunningham deemed Carrington’s foul “unnecessary” and said she believes it was intentional.
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“Clearly, I think it was like unnecessary,” Cunningham said, per ESPN’s Kareem Copeland. “I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So, get your s–t off. That’s fine. I can take it.”
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While Cunningham didn’t seem to understand the exact motivation behind the foul at first, she said she believes it was done for attention.
“Yeah, it’s intentional,” Cunningham added before also noting she believes Carrington was “just trying to get attention.”
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Cunningham reacts to Carrington’s social media post
WNBA: Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) fights with Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (7) after she was fouled during the first half at United Center. (Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
Not long after Carrington was ejected from the game, she made a controversial post to the social media platform Threads.
“WHITE PRIVILEGE,” Carrington posted, tagging the Fever’s official account.
Cunningham also responded to that.
“I think the league is taking care of that,” Cunningham said. “This has nothing to do with race. Last year, I did the same thing and I got kicked out. And I deserved to be kicked out. There’s no reason even to play that card.”
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Cunningham is referring to her hard foul on former Connecticut Sun and current Chicago Sky guard Jacy Sheldon last season, which was in retaliation for perceived cheap shots on Caitlin Clark.
While Cunningham was ejected like Carrington was, her foul wasn’t nearly as hard or as dangerous as Carrington’s.
This is just the latest controversy Cunningham has been involved in.
MORE: Will Caitlin Clark be suspended? WNBA makes crucial technical foul decision
The Fever guard drew criticism (and plenty of support, too) for her belief that transgender athletes should not be allowed to play in girls’ and women’s sports.
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“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” she told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest.
“And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Now, we wait to see if Carrington will face further punishment for anything that transpired on Saturday.
That decision should be coming down relatively soon.
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