Sophie Cunningham Responds to Dijonai Carrington's Controversial Post After Ejection

WHO:

Fox News - Sophie Cunningham stated, "I don't even know her. She wasn't even on the team last year when all that was going on."

Fox News - Fever coach Stephanie White previously coached DiJonai Carrington when both were with the Connecticut Sun in 2023-24.

Sportskeeda - Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever star; DiJonai Carrington, Chicago Sky guard; Stephanie White, Fever coach; Tyler Marsh, Sky coach.

Fox News - Caitlin Clark, Fever star; JD Vance, supporter of Cunningham; Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary.

AP News - DiJonai Carrington, who is Black; Sophie Cunningham, who is white.

WHAT:

Fox News - Sophie Cunningham stated, "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."

AP News - In the third quarter, Fever star Caitlin Clark was assessed a technical foul, which was her eighth of the season, triggering a one-game suspension for Indiana’s next game if not rescinded by the league.

AP News - A few hours after the game, the WNBA rescinded the technical foul assessed to Caitlin Clark.

Fox News - DiJonai Carrington was ejected in the first half of the game after committing a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham.

AP News - The Indiana Fever won the game against the Chicago Sky with a score of 90-86.

Fox News - After the foul, Cunningham confronted Carrington, pushing her as she was held back by a teammate.

AP News - The WNBA rescinded a technical foul assessed to Caitlin Clark after the game.

Fox News - DiJonai Carrington was ejected after smacking Cunningham across the face during a layup attempt.

Fox News - A rally supporting Cunningham is scheduled ahead of the Fever’s Aug. 22 game against the New York Liberty.

Fox News - DiJonai Carrington was ejected in the first quarter after committing a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham during a game where the Indiana Fever won 90-86 against the Chicago Sky.

Fox News - After her ejection, Carrington posted "WHITE PRIVILEGE" on Threads and tagged the Indiana Fever.

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "I think that’s why she did it because she wants attention," regarding Carrington's actions.

AP News - The WNBA rescinded the technical foul assessed to Caitlin Clark after the game.

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "I can take it... Yeah, it's intentional," regarding Carrington's foul.

Fox News - Fever coach Stephanie White defended Carrington, saying, "I don’t think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did."

Fox News - Sky coach Tyler Marsh initially believed Carrington was making a play on the ball and did not think it warranted a Flagrant 2 foul.

Fox News - A rally supporting Cunningham is scheduled ahead of the Fever’s Aug. 22 game against the New York Liberty.

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "I popped up. I’m not going to let anyone just do that to me. I think everyone knows that. I think that’s why she did it because she wants attention."

AP News - The WNBA rescinded the technical foul assessed to Caitlin Clark after the game.

Sportskeeda - Cunningham was on the receiving end of a hard foul from Carrington during a game.

Fox News - Carrington was ejected from the game after committing a Flagrant 2 foul against Cunningham.

AP News - Carrington posted "WHITE PRIVILEGE" on social media after her ejection.

AP News - The Indiana Fever won the game 90-86 against the Chicago Sky.

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "Clearly, I think it was like unnecessary... I guess she has some pent up stuff."

AP News - The foul was reviewed and upgraded to a Flagrant 2 due to windup, impact, and follow-through.

WHERE:

Sportskeeda - The incident occurred at the United Center in Chicago.

Fox News - The game was nationally televised.

WHEN:

NY Post - The next game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever is scheduled for Aug. 23.

Fox News - The game took place on a Saturday.

Fox News - A rally supporting Cunningham is scheduled ahead of the Fever’s Aug. 22 game against the New York Liberty.

WHY:

Fox News - The incident between Cunningham and Carrington unfolded as Cunningham remained at the center of a widening political debate, with supporters holding a fourth rally outside the venue of a Fever road game.

Fox News - Carrington has a contentious history with the Fever, including mocking Caitlin Clark and calling Indiana supporters "the nastiest fans in the W."

Fox News - Carrington has drawn attention for wearing an explicit anti-Trump sweatshirt and urging WNBA players to oppose Trump administration policies affecting women and the LGBTQ community.

Fox News - Carrington has a contentious history with the Fever, including mocking Caitlin Clark and calling Indiana supporters "the nastiest fans in the W" after receiving racist abuse from some online users.

Fox News - Carrington struck Clark in the eye while defending a pass during the 2024 playoffs, leaving the Fever star with a black eye.

Fox News - Carrington has a contentious history with the Fever, including mocking Caitlin Clark and calling Indiana supporters "the nastiest fans in the W."

Fox News - Carrington has drawn attention for wearing an explicit anti-Trump sweatshirt and urging WNBA players to oppose Trump administration policies affecting women and the LGBTQ community.

AP News - Cunningham has become one of the higher-profile players in the league this season, voicing support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports, which led to protests and rallies outside Fever games in Seattle and Portland.

Fox News - Cunningham suggested that Carrington's actions were an attempt to gain attention.

AP News - Cunningham stated that the ejection had nothing to do with race, referencing her own past ejection for a similar foul.

HOW:

AP News - WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that the league would have ongoing discussions about the issue of transgender participation in women’s basketball.

AP News - The foul was reviewed and upgraded to a Flagrant 2 due to windup, impact, and follow-through.

Fox News - Sky coach Tyler Marsh said he believed Carrington wasn't playing with ill intent and that he didn't see the foul as a Flagrant 2 in the moment.

AP News - WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that the league would have ongoing discussions about the issue of transgender participation in women’s basketball.

AP News - The foul was assessed as Flagrant 2 after a review by referees.

Fox News - Cunningham confronted Carrington after the foul, pushing her as she was held back by a teammate.

In a significant turn of events, the WNBA has rescinded the technical foul assessed to Fever star Caitlin Clark, which would have triggered a one-game suspension if not overturned. This decision comes after Fox News reported that Sophie Cunningham addressed the controversy surrounding her actions, emphasizing that race should not be a factor in the discussions. Additionally, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league will continue to engage in discussions about transgender participation in women’s basketball.