DiJonai Carrington gave the Dallas Wings everything she had Thursday night-15 points, energy on both ends, and the kind of spark that makes her one of the most dynamic players in the WNBA. But it wasn’t her stat line that people were talking about after the 97-92 loss to the Chicago Sky.
Instead, all eyes locked onto a postgame moment between Carrington and referee Roy Gulbeyan, a conversation that escalated unexpectedly when Gulbeyan motioned for security to step in.
According to several reports and fan footage circulating on social media, Carrington approached Gulbeyan courtside after the game, visibly frustrated but calm. The two exchanged words-reportedly about questionable calls during the game-and within seconds, a security guard walked between them at the referee’s request.
Carrington took to X (formerly Twitter) the next day to set the record straight.
“Security…, when I’m literally having a civil conversation is insane,”she posted. “Mind you, he called the ‘sEcUrItY’ over there.”
When Emotions Clash With Authority, Who Gets the Mic?
The incident quickly turned into a flashpoint for larger frustrations around how WNBA referees manage player interactions. Fans flooded social media, calling the move excessive and criticizing officials for being overly sensitive in high-emotion moments.
“He soft. How you calling security because you can’t do your job,” one comment read. Others pointed to a pattern. “Refs act like emotional robots. Players can’t even talk to them,” said another.
League insiders are noticing, too. During an appearance on WNBA Today, analyst Andraya Carter commented, “We want passion from players, but they’re being policed for showing it. There’s a disconnect there.” Chiney Ogwumike added on NBA Today,“This feels like a bigger issue with how women-especially Black women-are perceived when they speak up.”
While there’s no indication that the league will take disciplinary action against Carrington, the moment has clearly struck a nerve. With another Wings-Sky matchup scheduled for Saturday, many are watching to see how both Carrington and the refs carry themselves moving forward.
Carrington, who joined Dallas this season, has already proven she’s a force on the court. But now, she’s also become a voice in a broader conversation-one about respect, expression, and how much room players are given to challenge the calls that shape their careers.
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