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DiJonai Carrington maintains stance that Sophie Cunningham hit was not intentional

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DiJonai Carrington maintains stance that Sophie Cunningham hit was not intentional

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Aug 11, 2026 5:52 PM ET

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DiJonai Carrington and Sophie Cunningham remain at the center of one of the WNBA’s most talked-about controversies after the Chicago Sky forward reiterated that the play leading to her ejection was never intended to injure her Indiana Fever counterpart. Carrington’s latest comments have kept the discussion alive as both teams continue their push toward the end of the regular season.

The incident occurred during the opening quarter of Chicago’s 90-86 loss to Indiana when Carrington attempted to stop Cunningham on a fast-break layup. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded the contact to a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in Carrington’s automatic ejection. The decision immediately became one of the defining moments of the game, sparking widespread debate about player safety and the league’s handling of physical play.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) argues with a referee against the Phoenix Mercury. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In the days following the matchup, Carrington continued to defend her actions, maintaining that she had no intention of striking Cunningham in the head or neck area. She explained that her objective was to prevent an easy scoring opportunity rather than deliver a dangerous foul. Carrington acknowledged that the contact looked severe on replay but insisted the outcome did not reflect what she was trying to accomplish during the play.

The explanation has drawn mixed reactions from fans and analysts. Some have accepted Carrington’s account, noting that basketball is often played at a fast pace where split-second decisions can lead to unintended contact. Others have argued that the severity of the collision justified the officials’ decision regardless of intent, emphasizing that players remain responsible for maintaining control when challenging shots in transition.

Chicago Sky Star DiJonai Carrington Explains Hit on Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham

Jul 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (7) poses for a photo with Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) after the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Carrington maintained her stance on hitting Cunningham during Chicago’s recent game against the Fever. This can be seen in a post shared by Chicago State of Mind Sports’ official X account.

DiJonai Carrington on the flagrant foul:

“I’m never gonna let a open layup just be had. You can pull clips from however many seasons of me making that same exact play. It was unfortunate that I made contact with her in the way that I did, but it was never intentional”.

— Chicago State of Mind Sports (@ChiStateOfMind_) August 11, 2026

Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh also defended Carrington following the game, expressing confidence that the veteran forward was not attempting to injure an opponent. His comments aligned with Carrington’s explanation that the foul was a basketball play rather than a deliberate act. Despite those statements, the incident has continued to generate intense discussion as the rivalry between the Sky and Fever grows more competitive.

With another meeting between the two teams approaching later this month, attention will inevitably return to the on-court matchup rather than the controversy surrounding it. Whether fans accept Carrington’s explanation or not, the latest chapter has only intensified anticipation for the next showdown between two teams whose rivalry has become one of the WNBA’s most compelling storylines.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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