Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Aug 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (7) guards Seattle Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena.
Was DiJonai Carrington‘s hard foul against Sophie Cunningham and subsequent ejection meant to send a message? Only Carrington can say for sure, but her actions in a game against the Seattle Storm on Monday night seem to indicate as much.
Carrington, who has been at the center of multiple controversies of late, was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected from Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever after fouling Cunningham on the fast break.
She then caused a stir by taking to social media and posting the phrase “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media.
“I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race,” Cunningham said in response to the post. “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.”
Although Carrington has since claimed that her post wasn’t about the foul.
“I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege (that was your assumption). Try exercising your critical thinking skills. I know you studied psych,” she said on Monday in response to former NFL player turned pundit Emmanuel Acho.
However, Carrington reacted far differently on Monday night after a hard foul against Natisha Hiedeman of the Storm.
DiJonai Carrington Gives Natisha Hiedeman A Kiss On The Head
Hiedeman, best known as one half of the “StudBudz” with Courtney Williams, got wiped out by a hard, moving screen from Carrington’s teammate, Azura Stevens, sending her crashing to the ground.
But rather than defend her teammate or walk away, Carrington had a different reaction.
Not only did she go up to check on Hiedeman, but she also planted a kiss on her head to make sure that Hiedeman was truly okay.
DiJonai Carrington checks on Natisha Hiedeman after Hiedeman ran into a screen.pic.twitter.com/mXmHVWwF70
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) August 11, 2026
Some saw it as a caring gesture, while others viewed it as a sign of disrespect.
“If my opponent ever kissed me on the forehead, I am throwing hands,” one fan wrote on X. “So unserious…Plenty of times in sports I’ve hurt someone on accident and felt some remorse, but it’s always a ‘you good?’ Maybe a pat on the back or a fist bump. But a kiss…. nah, that’s a fight.”
Either way, it’s clear that Carrington feels far differently about Hiedeman than she does about Cunningham.