Former Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever” after her ejection for a Flagrant 2 foul on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, prompting women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines to call the episode “the definition of black privilege.”
“Assaulting a white girl and defending it by claiming white privilege is the definition of black privilege,” Gaines wrote on X Sunday while sharing video of the August 8 play.
Assaulting a white girl and defending it by claiming white privilege is the definition of black privilege pic.twitter.com/1tnf7seRED
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 9, 2026
“Assaulting” was Gaines’ description; officials classified Carrington’s contact as a Flagrant 2 foul.
The Wings acquired Carrington in the four-team deal that sent Cunningham from Phoenix to Indiana. Carrington played 20 games for Dallas, starting 13, before an August 3, 2025, trade to Minnesota. Chicago signed her in April.
Cunningham opposes biological males in women’s sports. Minnesota Lynx forward Nia Coffey struck her face with an elbow during an August 2 game, but officials left a defensive foul on Cunningham after review, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Neither player publicly linked the August 8 foul to that dispute.
Flagrant Foul Sparks Race Dispute
With 1:59 left in the first quarter, Cunningham raced ahead for a layup at Chicago’s United Center.
Carrington chased from behind and struck the left side of Cunningham’s head and neck with her left arm, video showed.
Cunningham fell, immediately got up, moved toward Carrington and shoved her before teammates and security separated them. A review upgraded the call from Flagrant 1 to Flagrant 2, requiring Carrington’s ejection.
In the WNBA’s official pool report, crew chief Maj Forsberg cited “windup, impact and follow-through,” a “high potential for injury” and Cunningham’s vulnerable position. Officials did not penalize Cunningham because they “deemed her reaction to the severity of the contact to be acceptable.”
Indiana won the game 90-86.
A Flagrant 2 also carries a $1,000 fine under the WNBA’s 2026 fine structure, Front Office Sports reported.
Carrington then posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever” on Threads. She tagged the Fever but did not explain whether she meant Cunningham, the no-call, the organization, the WNBA or something else.
Carrington declined to comment after the game, Reuters reported.
Cunningham rejected a racial explanation when reporters asked about the post.
“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,” Cunningham said.
Sky Head Coach Tyler Marsh said he initially thought Carrington played the ball and had not reviewed the replay. Asked about the post during the team’s official conference, Marsh said, “I have to get back to you on that because I’m just now hearing about that. So yeah, we’ll handle that.”
Gaines Alleges WNBA Discipline Double Standard
As of Monday morning, the WNBA had announced no additional discipline tied specifically to Carrington’s Threads post. The league did not respond to a request for comment, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The WNBA suspended Toronto Tempo Head Coach Sandy Brondello without pay for one game on July 18 for an “inappropriate comment” regarding Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese. Brondello called Reese a “protected species” while disputing an officiating decision.
Brondello apologized, saying her officiating frustration had unfairly focused on Reese.
Gaines cited Brondello’s suspension as evidence for her argument. “She was suspended and disciplined. And I think if that’s the standard, then DiJonai should be too,” Gaines said, The Comeback reported.
Chicago plays the Seattle Storm at 9 p.m. CT Monday. The Sky and Fever are scheduled to meet again on August 23.
Provided by Dallas Express
