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The Indiana Fever once again had a game overshadowed by controversy, and fan favorite Sophie Cunningham was smack dab in the middle. Cunningham and Chicago Sky star DiJonai Carrington got into a scuffle, after a hard foul from Carrington while Cunningham was driving to the hoop.
Carrington received a Flagrant 2 for the foul and was ejected from the game.
The incident was a talking point after the game, thanks to a comment made from Carrington on social media after her ejection, but during the post-fight press conference, Fever head coach Stephanie White strayed from the popular narrative to defend Carrington’s hard foul.
Rather than screaming “assault” or demonizing Carrington, White shared her thoughts about playing hard and not allowing anyone to get an easy bucket.
MORE: Sophie Cunningham baffled by DiJonai Carrington’s hard foul, controversial social media post
“She’s going to compete, no one’s going to walk in for an easy layup, so I don’t oppose the hard foul,” White said.
She added, “It was a hard foul. I don’t think that Dijonai intentionally came out to get [Sophie] across the neck like she did, but it did happen and I thought it was the right call.”
MORE: Will Caitlin Clark be suspended? WNBA makes crucial technical foul decision
That is a reasonable way to react to the foul. Was it hard and unnecessary? Yes, but sometimes those things happen when players are moving at full speed. There will be collisions, and sometimes they look even worse on the screen.
What Carrington did after the foul does change the fact that she played hard and made her opponent earn her points. Everything that happened after was just unfortunate.
Aug 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) is fouled by Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (7) as she drives to the basket during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
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Carrington received a Flagrant 2 for the foul and was ejected from the game.
The incident was a talking point after the game, thanks to a comment made from Carrington on social media after her ejection, but during the post-fight press conference, Fever head coach Stephanie White strayed from the popular narrative to defend Carrington’s hard foul.
Rather than screaming “assault” or demonizing Carrington, White shared her thoughts about playing hard and not allowing anyone to get an easy bucket.
MORE: Sophie Cunningham baffled by DiJonai Carrington’s hard foul, controversial social media post
Stephanie White Understands DiJonai Carrington’s Hustle
“She’s going to compete, no one’s going to walk in for an easy layup, so I don’t oppose the hard foul,” White said.
She added, “It was a hard foul. I don’t think that Dijonai intentionally came out to get [Sophie] across the neck like she did, but it did happen and I thought it was the right call.”
MORE: Will Caitlin Clark be suspended? WNBA makes crucial technical foul decision
That is a reasonable way to react to the foul. Was it hard and unnecessary? Yes, but sometimes those things happen when players are moving at full speed. There will be collisions, and sometimes they look even worse on the screen.
What Carrington did after the foul does change the fact that she played hard and made her opponent earn her points. Everything that happened after was just unfortunate.
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Aug 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) is fouled by Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (7) as she drives to the basket during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
