Carrington got the boot after catching Cunningham above the neck as the Fever guard went airborne for a transition layup.But instead of taking her lumps, Carrington retreated to the locker room and immediately pulled out her phone, posting "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever" on Threads.Just like that, Carrington turned punishment for her own reckless play into an accusation about race.If anything, that response warranted even greater scrutiny.
Instead, WNBA media circled the wagons around Carrington, downplaying the hit.Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) questions a referees call during a game against the Golden State Valkyries on July 15, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.(Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)DiJonai Carrington of the Chicago Sky was ejected after a brutal foul on Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever.
(Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)ESPN quickly joined the defense when analyst Andraya Carter rationalized the hit as little more than a product of Carrington's aggressive style of play.ESPN BURIES DIJONAI CARRINGTON DIRTY FOUL ON SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM, 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST"These are plays we've seen from DiJonai, right? So getting in the right position, jumping over the top, getting these transition blocks," Carter explained."She's always gonna make that effort.So even for some of these, she's behind the offensive player coming over the top.
So again, she was behind Sophie Cunningham.She wasn't able to get over the top.
Had she got over the top and made that play, we wouldn't have been talking about it.She was too far behind the play.
The contact above the head was too much.But that's what DiJonai Carrington does.
Like, this wasn't, to me, because it was Sophie Cunningham making the layup."Carter's own analysis undermined the defense she was making.She acknowledged that Carrington was behind the play and that the contact above the head was "too much," o...