DiJonai Carrington of the Chicago Sky faced backlash after posting “WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever” on Threads following her ejection from a game against the Indiana Fever. Her post drew attention after she fouled and was ejected for clotheslining Fever star Sophie Cunningham. Carrington later addressed comments, particularly those from Emmanuel Acho, who criticized her on his “Speakeasy” show.
Carrington replied to Acho, clarifying that she did not claim the foul was due to “white privilege.” Instead, she emphasized her educational background and understanding of the term. She stated, “I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege… Try exercising your critical thinking skills, I know you studied psych.” Carrington, a Stanford and Baylor graduate, added that she respects the historical and social significance of the term and would not use it lightly.
The ambiguity of Carrington’s Threads post left many wondering about its intended target. It remains unclear if the post referenced Cunningham, the Fever organization, or the WNBA. As of now, Carrington’s representative has not provided further clarification.
On the court, the incident occurred when Carrington fouled Cunningham during a fast break, leading to her ejection after an official review upgraded her foul to a Flagrant 2. Cunningham, who opposes biological men competing in women’s sports, has been involved in political debates related to this stance.
This is not the first time Carrington has been involved in controversies with Fever players. In 2024, she criticized rookie Caitlin Clark for flopping and called Fever fans “the nastiest,” following online racist abuse. Carrington also drew attention for a controversial Instagram Live joke about a black eye incident with Clark and for wearing an anti-Trump sweatshirt.
Carrington is in her first season with the Chicago Sky, averaging 9.8 points and 2.2 rebounds. Her actions on and off the court continue to generate discussion amid an environment filled with political and social nuances.