WNBA star DiJonai Carrington claims 'white privilege' post was about refs, not Sophie Cunningham, after backlash

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington has claimed that her “white privilege” social media post was about consistency in WNBA officiating and not her ejection for a flagrant 2 foul on an Indiana Fever guard.

Carrington posted on Threads shortly after being ejected Saturday and tagged the Indiana Fever team. The foul came after her left arm violently struck star guard Sophie Cunningham in the head and jaw as Cunningham attempted a layup, sending the Fever guard to the floor hard. Cunningham quickly got back up and moved toward Carrington before teammate Makayla Timpson intervened.

Carrington addressed the post Monday after sports analyst Emmanuel Acho criticized the flagrant 2 call and described her social media message as “ignorant” and “asinine.”

“I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was White privilege (that was your assumption),” Carrington wrote on X.

“Furthermore, I’m the LAST thing from ignorant or asinine when it comes to speaking on ‘white privilege’, do ya research on that one,” Carrington continued. “I actually went to school, one of the top universities might I add, to educate myself on this exact subject. I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it.”

Speaking before Chicago’s game against the Seattle Storm on Monday, Carrington said her concern was broader than the play involving Cunningham.

“I would say that I would just love consistency across the board when it comes to things like that,” Carrington said when asked whether Cunningham should also have received a technical foul for her reaction.

“Whether it’s the foul that I committed, whether it’s the reaction, the retaliation, I would just love it to be consistent across the board regardless of the name on your jersey or your skin color or the score of the game, the stakes, whatever, I would love there to just be consistency when it comes to all of that,” Carrington continued. “I don’t think we’re there yet. That’s something that I’ve talked to the league about as well. I think that will eliminate a lot of frustrations that we all have.”

Carrington also denied intentionally hitting Cunningham.

“Obviously, I’m just coming back from injury so maybe my timing or my lift wasn’t where it needs to get to, but … it was unfortunate I made contact with her in the way that I did, but it was never intentional,” she said. “Look, it might happen again. That’s just how I play, I’m always going to go all out and try to get a stop. I’m not just going to let an open layup happen. But … I’m never intending to hurt somebody regardless of anything outside noise or whatever the situation may be.”