Fever coach Stephanie White defends DiJonai Carrington after flagrant foul ejection on her own player

Michele Tafoya joins the program and calls Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham a HERO for standing up for women's sports despite intense backlash from Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, Seattle Storm leadership, and activist critics.

Sophie Cunningham took a forearm to the head Saturday night. And for some inexplicable reason, her own coach is defending the player who delivered it.

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White raised eyebrows after Saturday's 90-86 win over the Chicago Sky when she pushed back on Cunningham's assertion that DiJonai Carrington intentionally leveled her during a first-quarter drive to the basket.

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Carrington chased Cunningham down from behind as the Fever guard went up for a layup and caught her across the head and neck area, sending Cunningham crashing to the floor. Officials reviewed the play, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 and ejected Carrington.

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington commits a flagrant 2 foul against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

Cunningham had no trouble saying exactly what she thought happened.

"Clearly, I think it was like unnecessary. I've never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent up stuff. So get your s— off. That's fine. I can take it ... Yeah, it's intentional," Cunningham said after the game.

Her coach didn't see it that way.

"Yeah, I mean, look, it was a hard foul. I don't think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did. But it did happen and I thought it was the right call," White said.

Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever talks with head coach Stephanie White during the first half against the Chicago Sky at