Riley Gaines Claims DiJonai Carrington Used ‘Black Privilege’ to Defend Hard Foul on Sophie Cunningham

DiJonai Carrington claimed that the reason she was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected was because the Indiana Fever enjoyed 'White Privilege.'

Riley Gaines Claims DiJonai Carrington Used ‘Black Privilege’ to Defend Hard Foul on Sophie Cunningham

DiJonai Carrington and Riley Gaines (Image via Matt Wallace/X/Fox Business)

DiJonai Carrington came back into the spotlight after she whacked Sophie Cunningham in the face while trying to block her layup in the Indiana Fever’s win over the Chicago Sky.

The incident happened with two minutes left in the first quarter, and officials instantly called for a review. In the meantime, Cunningham had to be separated as she was visibly angry at the way she was fouled.

Eventually, officials slapped the Sky guard with a Flagrant 2 foul, and that meant she was given her marching orders. The Fever star, on the other hand, fixed up her bleeding mouth and continued to play.

But while the game was going on, Carrington wrote on Threads that her ejection was a result of the Indiana Fever enjoying ‘White Privilege.’ This claim drew quite a lot of backlash, with a certain Riley Gaines giving her take on it.

I would actually say that this is black privilege, to be totally honest with you! Because her posting this white racist comment right after assaulting Sophie Cunningham on the court is actually black privilege—because she knows the WNBA won’t do a single thing of significance about it.

Riley Gaines said on FOX & Friends

The activist claimed that the reason DiJonai Carrington got away with just an ejection was that she knows the WNBA will not go too far in terms of punishments.

Gaines added that had it been Sophie Cunningham who had whacked the Sky guard and then posted something like this, the league would probably hand her a tough punishment. The Fever guard’s recent actions have already caused furor. Therefore, had she done something like this, maybe Gaines’ theory may have come true.

RELATED
Riley Gaines Christens Sophie Cunningham as the ‘Real One’ After Standing Up for Caitlin Clark

Emmanuel Acho flames DiJonai Carrington for bringing race into Sophie Cunningham incident

Riley Gaines’ comments were similar to what Sophie Cunningham said after the game. The Fever guard stated that she did not enjoy that privilege last season when she manhandled Jacy Sheldon. Emmanuel Acho thinks so too.

Sophie Cunningham being fouled by DiJonai Carrington
Sophie Cunningham being fouled by DiJonai Carrington (Image via Miss Bennet/X)

DiJonai Carrington posted “White Privilege” from the locker room after being ejected for fouling Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham. Judge for yourself, but color didn’t have nothing to do with the flagrant 2. IMO.

Emmanuel Acho wrote on X

The former NFL linebacker made it clear that the foul was hard enough to justify Carrington getting thrown out of the game. Her intentions may have been to block the layup. But her timing was way off, which makes it an obvious foul.

Therefore, Acho does not believe that race should have been brought into this, especially when the footage says otherwise. It was a clear hard foul, and the officials were right to assess the 2024 Most Improved Player of the Year with a Flagrant 2.

RELATED
DiJonai Carrington Faces Jason Whitlock Critique After Latest Foul Play: “She Should be Banned”

Former SportsCenter wonders why league has not punished DiJonai Carrington over ‘White Privilege’ post

Another sticking point that appeared after the game was when Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White defended DiJonai Carrington by saying that her former player was known for playing hard.

Fans tore into her, asking whether she should be justifying the 28-year-old’s actions. Former SportsCenter host Linda Cohn did the same, and then asked a question for the WNBA

Where is the league on this?… I don’t care if she wrote ‘Dog privilege.’ You should not be allowed to post after you’re thrown out of a game, during a game. Players should not be allowed to post on social media. Is there a fine coming there to Miss Carrington?

Linda Cohn said on her namesake show

Cohn first questioned why White would justify Carrington’s actions, where she did not stand up for Sophie Cunningham when the latter was elbowed in the face and received a foul to boot.

On the other hand, the former ESPN host wondered whether the league would fine the Chicago Sky star, as posting on social media during a game is as egregious an act as is expected from professionals.

Also Read: