Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham sustained a bloody facial injury during a game against the Chicago Sky on Saturday, following a Flagrant 2 foul by Sky player DiJonai Carrington. The incident occurred late in the first quarter when Cunningham drove to the basket and was struck in the face by Carrington's arm, sending Cunningham to the floor.
Carrington was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game. While initially reacting furiously to the foul, shouting at Carrington, Cunningham was later seen smiling and waving as Carrington exited. The officials reviewed the play and upgraded the foul, citing a high potential for injury.
Following her ejection, Carrington posted on social media, "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever." This incident follows recent controversies surrounding Cunningham's public comments about transgender athletes. Earlier in July, Cunningham stated her desire to "protect young girls" from "biological men," sparking debate within the league and drawing commentary from public figures.
The WNBA players' union, the WNBPA, has issued a statement addressing the broader discourse, emphasizing values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The union stated it would not be used as political pawns and condemned the "hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people." The statement also urged fans to report abusive behavior online and notify security at games.
This event is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents and discussions involving Cunningham and the WNBA. In 2024, Carrington was involved in an incident where she poked then-Connecticut Sun teammate Caitlin Clark in the eye. Clark later stated the poke was unintentional, while Carrington reportedly mocked the event online.
