Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington triggered controversy during a WNBA clash with the Indiana Fever on Saturday night.

Carrington was ejected after delivering a hard hit to Sophie Cunningham, then blamed the decision on “white privilege” in a social media post.

The sequence unfolded late in the first quarter, with roughly two minutes remaining.

After an errant Sky pass, the Fever secured the loose ball and quickly turned the possession into an opportunity at the other end.

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Monique Billings collected the ball before sending it ahead to Cunningham, who was racing toward the basket on a fast break.

Cunningham elevated for a right-handed layup attempt as Carrington sprinted closely behind her to contest the shot.

Carrington’s left arm struck the left side of Cunningham’s head, face, jaw, and neck area while Cunningham was still in the air. The contact sent Cunningham crashing to the ground beneath the basket.

Cunningham immediately got back to her feet and moved toward Carrington near the baseline.

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The players exchanged words and made physical contact, with Cunningham pushing or attempting to swipe at Carrington as the confrontation intensified.

Fever teammate Makayla Timpson and other staff members quickly intervened.

They separated Cunningham and Carrington before the situation could escalate any further.

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Officials initially signaled either a common foul or a flagrant 1 foul. However, the referees initiated a video review to examine the severity and nature of Carrington’s contact with Cunningham.

Following that review, officials upgraded the call to a flagrant 2 foul.

They determined that Carrington’s action included windup, impact, and follow through, while also finding the contact unnecessary and excessive against a player in a vulnerable position.

A flagrant 2 foul carries an automatic ejection, so Carrington was removed from the contest.

Cunningham did not receive a technical foul for confronting Carrington after the play.

Officials later said Cunningham’s response was considered acceptable because of the severity of the contact.

Photographs captured on the sideline shortly afterward showed visible blood around Cunningham’s mouth and lower lip, consistent with the blow to her facial area.

Despite the contact and visible blood, Cunningham remained in the game and continued playing. Carrington, meanwhile, took to the text-based app Threads within minutes of her ejection.

In that post, Carrington blamed the decision on “WHITE PRIVILEGE” and tagged the Indiana Fever organization.

The post added another layer of controversy to an already heated encounter.

Black privilege is wearing an ugly blond wig, appropriating white culture, while attacking white women, then whining about the consequences. pic.twitter.com/PkoGENPd0R

— Shemeka Michelle (@ShemekaMichelle) August 8, 2026

After the final buzzer, Cunningham addressed both the hard foul and Carrington’s social media statement.

She said she viewed the contact as unnecessary and intentional, while noting that she had never previously spoken with Carrington and had no personal conflict with her.

Cunningham suggested the action might have involved unspecified prior matters.

She also said it appeared intended to attract attention because Fever games receive a national television audience.

“I think the league is taking care of that. 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,” she added in reference to the “white privilege” comment.

The confrontation came several weeks after Cunningham publicly supported excluding biological males from women’s sports competitions.

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Her remarks appeared in an ESPN profile published last month.

In that profile, Cunningham said she wanted to protect young girls in locker rooms and sports settings who should not have to compete against biological men. She described that position as a matter of common sense.

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