Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington has responded to criticism surrounding her social media post that read "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever" following her ejection from a game. However, her subsequent remarks have not clarified the exact meaning or context of the original post.
Carrington's post appeared on Threads shortly after she was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham. During an interaction on X, formerly Twitter, Carrington addressed sports personality Emmanuel Acho, who had stated that Carrington could not label her foul as "White privilege." Carrington clarified that her post was not an assessment of the foul itself, asserting that this was Acho's assumption. She stated that she has done extensive research on the term "white privilege" and would not use it without proper substantiation.
Despite her response to Acho, Carrington has not elaborated on what her "White privilege" post specifically referred to. Questions remain whether the post was directed at Cunningham, the Indiana Fever organization, or the WNBA as a whole. Representatives for Carrington did not immediately respond to inquiries seeking clarification.
The incident occurred late in the first quarter of the game when Carrington clotheslined Cunningham, who was driving for a layup. Cunningham reacted strongly to the foul, leading to an official review and Carrington's ejection. The WNBA has not yet announced any disciplinary action for the play.
Sophie Cunningham has recently been a focal point in a broader discussion regarding transgender athletes in women's sports. Rallies supporting her stance and counter-protests have taken place outside Fever games. Cunningham has stated her belief that protecting biological women in sports is "common sense."
This is not the first time Carrington has been involved in notable interactions with Fever players. In the 2024 season, while with the Connecticut Sun, she was involved in an incident with Caitlin Clark where she struck Clark in the eye while defending a pass. Both players deemed the contact accidental, though Carrington faced renewed criticism after appearing to make light of the situation on social media.
Beyond her on-court actions, Carrington has also been publicly vocal on political matters. She has been seen wearing anti-President Donald Trump apparel and has encouraged WNBA players to oppose policies enacted by the Trump administration that affect women and the LGBTQ community.
Carrington is in her sixth WNBA season and her first with the Chicago Sky, where she is averaging 9.8 points and 2.2 rebounds over five games.