Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham found herself in a new controversy this week after being fouled hard by Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington during today's game.
In the first half, Cunningham was trying to make a layup when Carrington ran in to play defense. She had her arms up and one of them hooked Cunningham around the neck, causing her to fall. A scuffle ensued and Carrington was ultimately given a flagrant foul.
Following the game, which the Fever won 90-86, Cunningham dismissed Carrington as an attention-seeker who wanted to get her name out there by fouling her on national television.
"Clearly, I think it was like unnecessary. 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," Cunningham said.
"Yeah, it's intentional. She wasn't even on the team. She has no reason to be doing any of that. So, good way to get her kicked out.
"I don't even know her. She wasn't even on the team last year when all that was going on. But I do think when people play the Fever, we're nationally televised, there's a lot of eyes on us and people just want attention. And that's her just trying to get attention."
Cunningham also defended her own actions in confronting Carrington after the play.
"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. Yeah, I popped up and KK had my back."
Carrington didn't exactly take the situation in stride. She went on Threads after the game and tagged the Fever with the message "WHITE PRIVILEGE."
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images.
A Drama-Filled Game
Cunningham finished the game with three points and two steals in 17 minutes. Her teammate Caitlin Clark, on the other hand, had a superb game with a 26-point, 11-assist double-double plus four rebounds.
Things got a bit dicey for Clark though after she received a technical foul, which would have given her eight on the year and resulted in a suspension for Tuesday's game against the New York Liberty. But the WNBA rescinded that foul after the game.
Fever head coach Stephanie White also received a foul for her action towards the referee that gave it to Clark.
“She intentionally seeked out the official. That’s what I was told. My tech was for saying that’s (expletive). Even though I heard the F-bomb the whole (expletive) game. That’s a bad call. Officials have to have some awareness in those moments and it didn’t happen," White said after the game.
