During the first quarter of Saturday’s encounter between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever, Sophie Cunningham was the protagonist of yet another controversial WNBA situation. As the Fever Guard approached the opposing basket unopposed, DiJonai Carrington challenged her possession of the ball, slapping her in the process.
As Cunningham jumped for the basket, Carrington’s hand went over her face, and part of her neck backwards. Cunningham immediately challenged the Sky player, and they had to be broken apart to prevent them from coming to blows. The play ended up being ruled a flagrant two violation, and DiJonai Carrington was expelled from the game.
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Skip Bayless, who reacted to the play through his X account, called it a dangerous move and a potentially personal move by Carrington:
“DiJonai Carrington just clothes-lined Sophie Cunningham by smashing her across the face as she went up for a breakaway layup. Cunningham took a dangerous hard fall. Obvious Flagrant 2, deserved ejection. Have to wonder if it was personal.”
Sophie Cunningham has been making national headlines ever since earlier in the year she became known for stepping up for her teammate Caitlin Clark, confronting players who are allegedly targeting her and the Fever as a whole. She was drawn further into the spotlight after expressing her opinion that transgender athletes shouldn’t be allowed in women’s sports.
DiJonai Carrington Claims Sophie Cunningham Benefited from ‘White Privilege’
Following her ejection from Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington went on her Threads account and published an accusation towards the Indiana Fever and Sophie Cunningham:
“WHITE PRIVILEGE @IndianaFever”
Cunningham spoke with ESPN afterwards and dismissed the comments made by her rival, stating the play was a clear violation:
‘I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race,’ she told ESPN. ‘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.’
In the end, the Indiana Fever won the game 90-86, bringing their record to 20-12. The Fever remains fourth in the WNBA standings, 5.5 games behind the Minnesota Lynx.
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