Boomer Esiason Weighs In on WNBA Controversy Involving DiJonai Carrington and Sophie Cunningham
Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason is known for his outspoken opinions on sports matters. His take on the WNBA incident involving DiJonai Carrington and Sophie Cunningham is no exception. Esiason shared his views with WFAN radio listeners, reflecting a sentiment that many in the sports community appear to echo.
The conflict began during an August 8 game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. Carrington’s hard foul on Cunningham during the first quarter was noteworthy. However, Carrington’s subsequent post on Instagram Threads escalated the situation. She wrote ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE,’ implying her ejection was influenced by racial dynamics, considering her as a black woman and Cunningham as a white woman.
“She immediately gets on her phone and puts out a post on Threads talking about white privilege. How is everybody supposed to react to that?” Esiason asked his co-host, Gregg Giannotti, on ‘Boomer and Gio’. “What are the opinions we are all supposed to have when you do something that stupid?”
Esiason speculated that Carrington’s actions might be a targeted attack. Claiming jealousy and animosity as underlying reasons, he said, “I think because of the timeline of everything, because of the jealous nature, the legitimate hatred for somebody because of what they believe in and because of what they look like and because of how popular they are, I could say it’s a targeted attack.” Giannotti agreed with Esiason, suggesting that many others shared this view.
During the incident, Carrington’s foul was classified as a Flagrant 2 after a review, leading to her automatic ejection. Despite inquiries by OutKick, the WNBA has not officially addressed her foul or her social media comment.
Cunningham’s personal beliefs add another layer to this complex situation. An ESPN article published on July 21 highlighted that Cunningham faced backlash for her position on women competing against biological men. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” Cunningham stated. She emphasized her intent to spread love while being honest about protecting young girls in sports.”I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides,” she remarked, noting that people often misinterpret her political stance.
A New York Times poll in March 2025 found that 79% of Americans support barring men from women’s sports.
Carrington returned to the court for the Sky in their next game, scoring 26 points in 27 minutes, although they lost 97-88 to the Seattle Storm. The incident remains a topic of discussion in sports circles.