After a recent incident involving Sophie Cunningham and Chicago Sky DiJonai Carrington flood social media with opinion. Despite a season where the on-court performances of the WNBA continue to draw strong ratings, the attention seems for very few basketball issues.
Yet, when something actually happens on court, the news cycle makes the story take on a life of its very own. Few players in the league command the attention that Cunningham garners.
Ex-WNBA Star Angel McCoughtry Blasts DiJonai Carrington Over Recent Drama
Even though she isn’t considered a star or major contributor on the team, Cunningham’s comments and perceived attitude seemingly keeps her in the headlines. Now, a former WNBA All-Star checked in with her take.
Last Saturday, during a game between the Fever and Sky, Cunningham streaked to the open court in what looked like a wide-open layup. Carrington struck Cunningham on the siode of the head, forcing her to the ground. After that, a melee ensued.
Following that incident, the Sky reserve took to social media to give her thoughts, which involved quarreling with sports commentators. McCoughtry, who played 13 seasons and made five All-Star teams, took issue with Carrington, not mincing words in her delivery.
“Is this a way to get attention? Because in the WNBA (Kelsey), who has 16 straight 20-point games, does not have a million followers. It seems like the way to get the attention and get the followers so you can get more money outside the WNBA is to create some negative, messy drama.”
McCoughtry is referring to the back-and-forth after the game that Carrington participated. The veteran threaded the words ” White Privilege”, directing the message towards Indiana. Meanwhile, Fever star Kelsey Mitchell is enjoying a career year, averaging 24.3 points per game on 50.9% shooting, which are both career highs.
In McCoughtry’s opinion, no one is looking at Mitchell’s monster season with the same passion as they are at Carrington, and by extension, Cunningham. On top of that, McCoughtry, the 2009 WNBA Rookie of the Year, thinks the modern players are not going about the business of league promotion the right way, stating:
“That’s how these girls are getting millions of followers these days. And it’s so backwards, and it’s so wrong.”
Cunningham gained notoriety for her anti-trans comments in an ESPN article, subsequently doubling down on her statements. Politically partisan groups have weighed in, seemingly capturing headlines with comments rather than actual play.
As mentioned, the WNBA finds itself in a situation where the focus, which should center around basketball, isn’t, which could ultimately hurt the game.
