Sophie Cunningham responds to ‘white privilege’ post after brutal foul as Caitlin Clark ban overturned
Sophie Cunningham fired back at DiJonai Carrington after the Chicago Sky guard posted the words ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’ in reference to her ejection against the Indiana Fever.
Carrington was called for a foul during Saturday’s game, after she caught Cunningham across the left side of the head as she attempted a layup late in the first quarter.
The Fever star hit the ground, and immediately got up to confront her opponent before the pair were separated by teammates.
Carrington’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant 2 after review, which resulted in an immediate ejection.
Soon after she was tossed, the WNBA veteran wrote ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’ on social media platform Threads, and tagged Indiana’s account in the post.
Carrington’s message quickly went viral, and has drawn close to 10,000 comments in the hours since it was made.
The Fever won a close game 90-86, and Cunningham was quickly asked about the post.
“I think the league is taking care of that,” she told reporters.
“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.”
Referee Maj Forsberg later revealed that Cunningham was not penalised for her reaction to the foul because officials ‘deemed her reaction to the severity of the contact to be acceptable’.
Indiana’s guard also described the incident as ‘unnecessary’.
“I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff,” Cunningham suggested.
“So, get your (stuff) off. That’s fine — I can take it.”
When told of the post, which has not been removed as of Sunday morning, Sky coach Tyler Marsh added: “I have to get back to you on that because I’m just now hearing about that. So yeah, we’ll handle that.”
Cunningham has made plenty of headlines in recent weeks, following her comments on transgender athletes participating in women’s sport.
In an ESPN article published last month, she voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports, which has led to small protests and rallies outside Fever games in Seattle and Portland.
Others have shown up inside and outside of Fever games, to express support.
In response to the storm, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has sent a memo to teams confirming that the league will continue discussing issue of transgender eligibility.
Caitlin Clark avoids suspension as technical foul rescinded
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark was assessed her eighth technical foul of the season in the win against Chicago.
In the third quarter, she was called for a foul after running into an official as she passed the ball before stepping out of bounds along the baseline.
By rule, an eighth technical foul triggers an automatic one-game suspension.
“She said I ran into her,” Clark said of the incident in a postgame interview.
“I’ve already watched it on the tape, so we’ll let the league decide. But it wasn’t intentional or anything, so I’m hoping it’s getting rescinded.”
Soon after, Clark indeed got her way, and the WNBA rescinded the tech less than two hours after the clash in Chicago.
The three-time All-Star is now free to play on Tuesday at home against the New York Liberty (19-13), who trail Indiana by one win.
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