Caitlin Clark faces suspension, DiJonai Carrington ejected in Fever's 90-86 win over Sky
Indiana Fever beat Chicago Sky 90-86 in a game marked by DiJonai Carrington's Flagrant 2 ejection and Caitlin Clark's eighth technical foul, which triggers an automatic one-game suspension unless rescinded by the WNBA.
Carrington ejected for Flagrant 2
In the first quarter of Indiana's 90-86 win over Chicago at the United Center on Saturday, Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected after a Flagrant 2 foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. After an errant pass from Chicago's Elizabeth Williams, Indiana's Monique Billings collected the loose ball and threw ahead to a streaking Cunningham. On the shot attempt, Carrington's left arm connected with Cunningham's head and jaw, sending her to the floor. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded the common foul to a Flagrant 2, citing windup, impact and follow-through. Carrington grinned and shook her head as she walked through the tunnel to an ovation from Sky fans.
Cunningham immediately popped up, pushed Carrington, and was restrained by teammate Makayla Timpson. Cunningham was not assessed a technical foul for the shove because officials "deemed her reaction to the severity of the contact to be acceptable," per a pool report. Cunningham said afterward she had no prior beef with Carrington.
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.
Carrington posts "white privilege"
Minutes after her ejection, a post appeared on Carrington's Threads account tagging the Fever with the phrase "WHITE PRIVILEGE." Carrington was not available for comment after the game. Cunningham, who is white, responded to the post.
Oh yeah, we saw it. I think the league is taking care of that. I mean, this has nothing to do with race. Last year I did the same thing, and I got kicked out, as I deserved to be kicked out. There's no reason to even play that card.
Cunningham referenced her own ejection late last season, when she chased down guard Jacy Sheldon, now a member of the Sky, and applied a headlock during a dust-up. Carrington was not a member of the Sky last season. Cunningham also drew a connection to her recently published ESPN comments supporting a ban on transgender girls and women from women's sports, which led to small protests outside Fever games in Seattle and Portland. On Friday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to teams saying the league would have ongoing discussions about transgender participation in women's basketball.
Clark's eighth technical
In the third quarter, Fever star Caitlin Clark was assessed her eighth technical foul of the season after making contact with a referee while being forced out of bounds. Eight technicals trigger an automatic one-game suspension. Clark said the contact was inadvertent and that no words were exchanged.
- Carrington ejected for Flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham after arm to head and jaw
- Clark assessed 8th technical of season for contact with referee, triggering automatic one-game suspension
- Carrington posts 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' on Threads, tagging the Fever
- Fever's next game against New York; Clark suspended unless WNBA rescinds the technical
She said I ran into her. 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.
Fever coach Stephanie White, irate over the sequence, also received a technical. White called the call "bad" and said officials need awareness in those moments. Clark, the league's fifth-leading scorer and second-leading assist provider, has been under scrutiny all season for her on-court comportment. Indiana's next game is Tuesday against New York.
