Overview
- During the Chicago-Indiana game on Saturday, DiJonai Carrington was assessed a Flagrant 2 after review for a hard behind-the-head hit on Sophie Cunningham and was automatically ejected from the game.
- Minutes after leaving the court Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILIGE” on Threads tagging the Indiana Fever, a message that circulated widely and was later deleted by some outlets reporting it.
- Sophie Cunningham rejected a racial reading of the episode, told reporters the league was handling it, and noted she had been ejected for a similar play last season and accepted that precedent.
- Fever coach Stephanie White said the ejection was the correct call while defending Carrington’s competitive style and denying she intentionally targeted Cunningham’s neck.
- High-profile commentators called for further punishment, the WNBA has signaled it will review the incident with possible discipline but had announced no penalties as of Sunday, and the episode overlaps with Cunningham’s recent controversy over transgender eligibility that the league is due to discuss.