Former ESPN star Cindy Brunson did not agree with how the referees handled Saturday's controversy between Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington.
Carrington, a veteran guard for the Chicago Sky, was ejected from Saturday's loss to the Indiana Fever, after hitting Cunningham hard in the neck. Carrington was initially called for a Flagrant 1, however, upon review, the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2. The Sky guard was tossed from the game and could face further WNBA discipline.
However, Brunson, a longtime "SportsCenter" anchor, disagreed with the call. In fact, she felt that it was Cunningham, not Carrington, that truly deserved punishment from the WNBA. Brunson called for Cunningham to be ejected instead.
"I'm team (DiJonai) all day every day and at most that should've been a Flagrant 1 and not an ejection," Brunson wrote on Threads.
"...(Cunningham) also should've been tossed via a Flagrant 2."
Brunson added that "we know" who the real aggressor was, meaning Cunningham instead of Carrington.
Cunningham speaks out on the play
Cunningham, meanwhile, thinks that the WNBA's referees handled things the right way.
"Clearly, I think it was like unnecessary," Cunningham said after the game. "I've never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So, get your (expletive) off. That's fine. I can take it."
Carrington accused the league of "white privilege" following the ejection.
"I think the league is taking care of that," Cunningham said. "This has nothing to do with race. Last year, I did the same thing and I got kicked out. And I deserved to be kicked out. There's no reason even to play that card."
Cunningham is getting used to the frenzy, though.
"Another day, another dollar," Cunningham said with a smile. "Welcome to my life, boys and girls.
"I wasn't even upset. I mean, I popped up. I'm not going to let anyone just do that to me. I think everyone knows that. I think that's why she did it because she wants attention. I mean, (expletive), like, people have started craving attention. Like go get it somewhere else. Go do something good in the world, I don't know."
