Florida AG James Uthmeier criticizes DiJonai Carrington over WNBA foul

The first-quarter fast break at the United Center ended in an abrupt collision and immediate ejection, setting off a chain reaction that quickly expanded far beyond the court. Playing in Chicago, the Indiana Fever secured a 90-86 victory, but the game was overshadowed by a high-stakes flashpoint involving Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.

With 1:59 remaining in the first quarter, Cunningham drove toward the basket for a running layup while Carrington pursued her from behind. Carrington's arm caught Cunningham across the upper body, jaw, and neck area, sending the Fever guard tumbling hard to the floor. Officials initiated a video review and upgraded the common foul to a Flagrant 2, citing windup, impact, and follow-through, which resulted in an automatic ejection that ended Carrington's evening after just under four minutes of play, according to Livemint and The New York Times.

Related YouTube video

The fallout accelerated almost immediately online and on the sidelines. As Carrington walked back to the locker room smiling and shaking her head to an ovation from Sky fans, she published a post on her Threads account tagging the Indiana Fever and featuring the words "WHITE PRIVILEGE", as reported by Yahoo Sports. That digital escalation invited external political figures into the sports news cycle. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier took to X to criticize the sequence, posting a direct warning about future league visits to his state by stating that his office would charge people with assault if games were played in Florida — a notable remark given that the state has been without a WNBA team since the early 2000s when the Orlando Miracle and Miami Sol folded or relocated.

Reactions from team benches highlighted a stark contrast in perspectives regarding intent. Fever coach Stephanie White stated she did not believe Carrington intentionally struck Cunningham across the neck, though she agreed the Flagrant 2 call was correct. Similarly, Sky coach Tyler Marsh noted that live view suggested Carrington was simply attempting to make a play on the ball. Cunningham herself, however, offered a sharply divergent interpretation in postgame remarks.

"From my point of view, I mean, clearly I think it was unnecessary. I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her. But I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So get your s— off. That’s fine. I can take it."

Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever guard, via The New York Times

Cunningham asserted that Carrington was just trying to get attention because of the intense national television spotlight surrounding the Fever, linking the contact to her own infamous headlock and ejection involving former Sun guard Jacy Sheldon during the 2025 season — even though Carrington was not on the Sun roster at that time. Cunningham explicitly dismissed any racial motivation behind the incident or her online response, noting to reporters that she had previously been ejected for a similar hard foul last year and deserved it.

The on-court altercation unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing demonstrations outside the arena regarding Cunningham's recent public comments opposing transgender women's participation in women's sports, which had previously sparked protests and counterprotests in cities like Seattle and Minneapolis. Carrington had provided an immediate spark off the bench by scoring eight points in three minutes before her abrupt departure.

As of publication, WNBA league officials have not yet announced any supplemental fines or suspensions for Carrington's foul or her social media posts.

Aftershocks and Disciplinary Uncertainty

The fallout extended into subsequent league announcements and technical reviews across the league. According to reporting by the *Chicago Sun-Times* and *The Sporting News*, a Flagrant 2 foul does not automatically trigger an automatic suspension for the following game, leaving room for WNBA league officials to evaluate whether additional fines or supplemental discipline are warranted for Carrington's on-court contact or her subsequent social media activity.

Concurrently, other high-profile incidents during the same slate of games prompted rapid administrative reversals. As detailed by CNN, Fever star Caitlin Clark was assessed her eighth technical foul of the season during the third quarter after making contact with a referee when she was forced out of bounds, a threshold that would typically trigger an automatic one-game suspension. However, the WNBA rescinded Clark's technical foul just hours after the final buzzer following a video review.

The broader cultural and political demonstrations surrounding the teams also remained visible, with ESPN noting that the Women’s National Basketball Players Association issued a memo addressing harassment and the defense of the transgender community without explicitly naming individuals. As the league office weighs potential supplementary measures for the Chicago Sky guard's digital and physical escalation, the next step rests on whether WNBA leadership formally assesses fines or additional suspensions before the two teams meet again.