Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington has addressed the flagrant foul that resulted in an ejection and left Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham bloodied, asserting that the contact was unintentional.
Cunningham had suggested after the game on August 8, 2026, that the foul was 'intentional,' possibly as retaliation for a past play. However, Carrington, speaking to reporters on August 10, 2026, after her team's loss to the Seattle Storm, dismissed this notion.
"It was unfortunate that I made contact with her in the way that I did, but it was never intentional," Carrington said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "And, look, it might happen again. That’s just how I play. I’m gonna always go all out. I’m not gonna just let an open layup happen. But like I said, I’m never intending to hurt anybody, regardless of the outside noise or whatever the situation may be."
Carrington also used the opportunity to call for greater consistency in WNBA officiating, particularly regarding ejections and retaliation.
"Whether it’s the foul that I commit, whether it’s the reaction or retaliation, I would just love for it to be consistent across the board, regardless of the name on your jersey or your skin color or the score of the game, whatever," Carrington stated. "I don’t think we’re there yet. That’s something that I’ve talked to the league about, as well. I think that will eliminate a lot of frustrations we all have."
The Sky guard also commented on her social media post following the game, which read "WHITE PRIVILEGE." She explained that the statement was not an assessment of the foul itself but rather a response to perceived assumptions, particularly from sports media personality Emmanuel Acho.
"I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege (that was your assumption). Try exercising your critical thinking skills, I know you studied psych," Carrington wrote on X. "Furthermore, I’m the LAST thing from ignorant or asinine when it comes to speaking on 'white privilege', do ya research on that one. I actually went to school, one of the top universities might I add, to educate myself on this exact subject. I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it."
Carrington indicated that she has raised concerns about officiating consistency with the league. Multiple requests for comment from the WNBA regarding Carrington's post have not yet been answered.