During the Chicago Sky’s 91-71 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, guard DiJonai Carrington was involved in two separate incidents where she made contact with opposing players’ faces. Carrington was assessed a technical foul after the second incident, which occurred during the third quarter of the game.
In the first incident, Carrington appeared to swipe at Golden State’s Cecilia Zandalasini while defending, making contact with her eye area. Later in the game, Carrington made contact with Tiffany Hayes in the mouth while contesting a layup attempt. Neither play resulted in a flagrant foul, though Carrington drew a technical foul for arguing with officials after the second incident.
The incidents occurred four days after Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham, which left Cunningham with a bloody mouth. Following that ejection, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media, referencing the foul call. The post did not provide further explanation.
Fan Incident Reported
During the same game, Carrington complained to officials about a fan sitting near the court, alleging inappropriate behavior. The fan was temporarily removed from his seat but later returned after the complaint was deemed unfounded. A Valkyries official stated the fan was cooperative throughout the process.
Game Performance and Aftermath
Carrington finished the game with three points on 1-for-9 shooting, contributing to the Sky’s loss. She also recorded three personal fouls and the technical foul. The Sky’s record dropped to 12-22 following the defeat.
League and Team Responses
The WNBA has not issued a public statement regarding the incidents involving Carrington. The Chicago Sky organization has not commented on the matter beyond the game’s official box score.
Background on Prior Incident
On the previous Saturday, Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham during a layup attempt. The foul was reviewed and upheld by officials. Cunningham suffered a visible injury, and the play drew significant attention from fans and media.
Carrington’s Social Media Response
Following the ejection, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on her social media account. The post did not clarify whether the phrase referenced the foul call, the ejection, or broader issues. Carrington has not provided further public explanation of the post’s meaning.