The politburo of the Women’s National Basketball Association continues to be mired in controversy after an excessively hard foul by Chicago Sky player Dijonai Carrington on the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham during a game over the weekend. Carrington’s contact drew the ire of Cunningham supporters everywhere, as it was vicious (and arguably intentional). As malevolent as Carrington’s foul was, basketball history is rife with such fouls — including some committed by Cunningham herself. Nevertheless, the problem wasn’t Carrington’s foul; the problem was Carrington blaming white privilege for being held accountable for the foul. It’s indicative of the black entitlement problem corroding the WNBA. 

After the Fever’s Monique Billings recovered a loose ball during the game Saturday, she passed it to Cunningham, who was running for a breakaway layup before Carrington leaped in the air and slashed Cunningham around the face and neck, causing her to tumble hard to the court. Referees initially called a Flagrant 1 foul on Carrington, but it was upgraded to a more serious Flagrant 2. After a review, the referee felt that Carrington performed a windup and follow-through on the contact while Cunningham was in a vulnerable position for an injury.