Fans React Strong As DiJonai Carrington Returns For First Game Since Sophie Cunningham Flagrant Foul [VIDEO]
She was welcomed like a hero.
Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington checked into Monday’s game against the Seattle Storm and received a loud ovation. Fans at Climate Pledge Arena cheered her entrance just two days after her flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham.
Carrington entered with the score tied early in the first quarter. The crowd response stood out on the road. Many saw it as a direct reaction to her recent physical play against the Indiana Fever guard.
Why DiJonai Carrington Earned Cheers From Storm Fans
DiJonai Carrington and Sophie Cunningham. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Carrington committed a flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham during Saturday’s game in Chicago. She chased Cunningham on a fast-break layup and made contact with her head and neck area. Officials ejected Carrington after review.
Cunningham got up quickly and confronted her. Teammates and staff separated the two. Carrington later posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” while tagging the Fever. She deleted the post soon after.
Carrington addressed the play before facing Seattle. She said the contact was never intentional.
“It was unfortunate I made contact with her in the way that I did, but it was never intentional,” she told reporters.
She added that she never lets an open layup go uncontested.
Storm fans still offered strong support when she entered the game. The reaction connected to deeper tensions around Cunningham.
DiJonai Carrington and the Storm’s Past Issues With Cunningham
DiJonai Carrington. (Image via X)
Seattle has history with Cunningham’s public stance. The Fever guard spoke in favor of keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports. That led to a pregame rally outside Climate Pledge Arena during a recent Fever-Storm matchup.
A Storm co-owner confronted two fans supporting Cunningham. The team later apologized for the exchange. The Storm apologized after the co-owner’s comments to the fans.
Some in the Seattle crowd viewed Carrington’s foul as pushback against Cunningham. The ovation reflected that divide. Fans who disagreed with Cunningham’s views appeared happy to see her targeted physically.
Carrington scored a career-high 26 points off the bench in the loss. She added six rebounds and five steals. Her strong performance followed the loud welcome.
The moment showed how quickly WNBA storylines shift from the court to the stands. Carrington’s disgusting two-word post after the ejection added fuel. Cunningham responded by saying the foul felt unnecessary and attention-seeking.
Fans on both sides continue debating the play and the social media response. The Seattle reaction made clear that Carrington’s actions against Cunningham still resonate. The next meeting between the Sky and Fever on August 23 could bring more intensity.
