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See the full story · 6 sourcesDiJonai Carrington ejected after hard hit on Sophie Cunningham in Fever-Sky game originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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DiJonai Carrington’s afternoon ended almost as quickly as it began Saturday. The Chicago Sky guard was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected late in the first quarter against the Indiana Fever after making forceful contact with Sophie Cunningham during a drive to the basket.
Carrington entered the nationally anticipated game with 5:29 remaining in the opening quarter. Less than four minutes later, she was headed back to the locker room.
DiJonai Carrington receives Flagrant 2 foul
The incident occurred with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter at the United Center. Cunningham drove toward the basket and converted a running layup while Carrington attempted to defend the play. Carrington’s contact sent Cunningham hard to the floor, immediately drawing the attention of the officials.
DiJonai Carrington was assessed a Flagrant 2 and was ejected from the game after this play. pic.twitter.com/WRapu4lqHX
— ESPN (@espn) August 8, 2026 After a referee-initiated video review, the call was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 foul. That ruling carries an automatic ejection, bringing Carrington’s game to an abrupt end. ESPN shared a replay of the sequence shortly after it happened, confirming that Carrington had been assessed the Flagrant 2 and removed from the game.
Cunningham remained in the game and made the ensuing free throw, completing a three-point possession that gave Indiana a 20-18 lead. Carrington had provided Chicago with an immediate offensive lift before the ejection. She scored eight points in less than four minutes, making a turnaround jumper, a 3-pointer and a running layup. She also converted an and-one free throw.
Her fast start made the ejection even more costly for a Sky team attempting to protect its home court against one of its biggest rivals.
MORE : Sophie Cunningham’s Chicago pregame outfit gets Fever fans talking
Another chapter in the Fever-Sky rivalry
Any game between Indiana and Chicago already carries additional attention. Saturday’s matchup became even more intriguing because of the history involving Carrington, Cunningham and Caitlin Clark.
Carrington and Clark have been connected to controversy since the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, when Carrington inadvertently struck Clark near the right eye while attempting to deflect a pass. Clark later developed a black eye, although both players said the contact was not intentional.
Cunningham, meanwhile, has repeatedly made it clear that she will defend her Fever teammates when games become overly physical. Her role in several heated moments has made her one of the most polarizing players in the league.
This time, however, Cunningham did not retaliate. She absorbed the contact, stayed on the floor and converted the free throw after officials ejected Carrington.
A Flagrant 2 does not automatically result in a suspension for the following game. The WNBA can review the play and determine whether an additional fine or punishment is warranted.
For Carrington, the immediate consequence was already significant. She went from becoming Chicago’s hottest scorer to watching the rest of a high-profile rivalry game from the locker room.
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