DiJonai Carrington, a standout player for the Chicago Sky, finds herself embroiled in controversy yet again following an incident where she had a fan removed from the arena during a recent game. Her grievance, however, was later deemed unfounded.
The incident took place during the final quarter of a matchup between the Chicago Sky and the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. Carrington approached the officials, raising concerns about the conduct of a fan in the courtside seats.
Following her complaint, security escorted the fan from their seat, only for them to return to the game shortly afterward.
‘The fan was cooperative after a complaint that was unfounded,’ a Valkyries spokesperson shared with ClutchPoints.
A statement from the Chicago Sky to ClutchPoints confirmed the fan received a warning but declined to provide further details on the matter.
Officials chatted to Sky head coach Tyler Marsh before Carrington spoke with referees and a Chicago staff member, likely to tell them what the fan said.
Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington had a Valkyries fan kicked out over something he said
However, the fan (center, seated) was able to return after Carrington’s claim was ‘unfounded’
That same Chicago staffer spoke briefly to the fan, who was later seen laughing on camera with the woman sitting beside him.
‘So, there is a stoppage right now as Chicago’s team security has stepped out along with arena security representatives,’ a commentator on the USA Network broadcast said. ‘Carrington went over to one of the officials, as you see Sarah Williams there, to say something.’
The co-commentator on the broadcast said, ‘I don’t know what was or wasn’t said. I will say respect for the players is something, especially right now, that is being taken very seriously from everybody around the league, as it should be.’
Play resumed as security escorted the fan away from his seat. Eventually, he was seen back in his spot.
Carrington finished the game with just three points and three rebounds in 24 minutes of a 91-71 loss.
Also during the game, Carrington came under fire from fans after she committed more brutal fouls just days after her vicious collision with Sophie Cunningham.
Carrington was first seen appearing to poke Cecilia Zandalasini in the eye as she tried to block a pass.
It was a move eerily similar to the one Carrington pulled on Caitlin Clark in 2024 that left the Indiana Fever star with a black eye.
This incident comes days after Carrington’s hard foul on Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham
Carrington came under fire from WNBA fans after she committed more brutal fouls
But then, moments later, Tiffany Hayes was driving to the basket and Carrington had her arms in the air.
But as Hayes dribbled past her, Carrington lowered her right arm straight into the face of her oncoming opponent. She was nowhere near the ball and her arm caught Hayes straight in the face.
The Sky guard recently sparked a firestorm after her ejection due to a hard foul on Indiana Fever guard Cunningham last Saturday. After she got tossed, Carrington posted to her Threads account and simply said: ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever.’
It’s not clear what Carrington was referring to, especially after she responded to a clip from the ‘Speakeasy’ podcast with former NFL player Emmanuel Acho saying she ‘never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege.’
She added, ‘I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it.’
Carrington claimed her vicious foul on Cunningham was ‘unfortunate’ and ‘never intentional’ when she returned to the court Monday night.
Speaking after she scored a career-high 26 points in the 97-88 loss to Seattle, Carrington said of the foul: ‘It was unfortunate that I made contact with her in the way that I did, but it was never intentional.
‘And, look, it might happen again. That’s just how I play. I’m gonna always go all out.
Carrington was first seen appearing to poke Cecilia Zandalasini in the eye as she tried to block
Carrington then caught Tiffany Hayes in the face with her arm as she drove to the basket
‘I’m not gonna just let an open layup happen. But like I said, I’m never intending to hurt anybody, regardless of the outside noise or whatever the situation may be.’
When asked whether Cunningham should have been penalized for her angry reaction to the foul, Carrington continued: ‘I would just love consistency across the board when it comes to things like that.
‘Whether it’s the foul that I commit, whether it’s the reaction or retaliation, I would just love for it to be consistent across the board, regardless of the name on your jersey or your skin color or the score of the game, whatever.
‘I don’t think we’re there yet. That’s something that I’ve talked to the league about, as well. I think that will eliminate a lot of frustrations we all have.’
The Fever and the Sky will play again on August 23.