Latest news with #RoyGulbeyan
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
WNBA in fresh racism storm after Dijonai Carrington confronts referee and blasts 'insane' treatment
Dallas star Dijonai Carrington appeared to claim she was the victim of racial discrimination after a WNBA referee called security during a bust-up on the court. In a clip that has now gone viral on social media, Carrington is seen talking to referee Roy Gulbeyan at the end of the Wings' loss against the Chicago Sky on Thursday. The official can then be seen ushering a member of security staff to stand between himself and Carrington. The guard, who sparked controversy last season after leaving Caitlin Clark with a black eye and then clashing with a reporter over the collision, accused Gulbeyan of an 'insane' overreaction. 'Security,' she wrote on social media. 'When I'm literally having a civil conversation is insane. Mind you, he called the 'sEcUrItY' over there… #Mircoagression (sic)' Microaggressions are defined by the American Psychological Association as 'commonly occurring, brief, verbal or nonverbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate derogatory attitudes or notions toward a different 'other.'' security… , when i'm literally having a civil conversation is insane . mind you , he called the 'sEcUrItY' over there… #Mircoagression — dιjonaι carrιngтon♛ (@DijonaiVictoria) May 30, 2025 According to Merriam-Webster, microaggressions 'express a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority).' The Daily Mail has reached out to the WNBA and Dallas Wings for comment. Carrington did not expand on the hashtag but the WNBA was recently embroiled in a racism saga following the season opener between the Sky and the Indiana Fever, when Clark clashed with rival Angel Reese. Afterwards, the league launched an investigation into claims of racist abuse directed at Reese. Earlier this week, however, the league said it could substantiate claims of racist fan behavior after a probe that included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff, as well as an 'audio and video review of the game.' Carrington found herself at the center of a racism storm following her own clash with Clark last season. After catching the Fever superstar in the eye, Carrington was asked if it was intentional and whether she later laughed about the incident. That sparked a furious statement from the WNBA players association, who branded the line of questioning: 'A blatant attempt to bait a professional athlete into participating in a narrative that is false and designed to fuel racist, homophobic and misogynistic vitriol on social media.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
WNBA referee issues statement on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese incident as shove sparks dramatic bust-up
Caitlin Clark 's shove on Angel Reese was upgraded to a flagrant foul as it was deemed 'not a legitimate basketball play' and 'unnecessary contact'. Tempers flared between Indiana Fever star Clark and Chicago Sky rival Reese less than 30 minutes into their WNBA season opener, with the latter reacting furiously to being knocked to the floor by her longtime nemesis. Caitlin first slapped the Sky forward across the arm after she grabbed an offensive rebound, sending her tumbling to the ground midway through the third quarter. The push left Angel seething as she leapt back to her feet and made a beeline for the Fever icon before her teammates quickly intervened. Following a replay review, the referees upgraded Clark's foul to a flagrant one, a decision she fumed about both during and after Indiana's eventual 93-58 win after claiming it was simply a 'basketball play.' Yet the game's referee crew chief, Roy Gulbeyan, saw things differently. The Pool Report following the Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever game today. — WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) May 17, 2025 Gulbeyan said in a statement released by the WNBA Communications account on x: 'Okay, the foul on Clark met the criteria for flagrant 1, for wind up, impact, and follow through for the extension of the left hand to Reese's back, which is deemed not a legitimate basketball play, and therefore deemed unnecessary contact. 'After the foul, there is a physical taunt technical on Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset.' During an in-game interview with ESPN, Clark stressed that she was simply doing what every basketball player would do in the same situation. 'It's just a good take foul,' the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year said. 'You know, either Angel gets a wide open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line. 'Nothing malicious about it. It's just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.' She also doubled down on that claim in her postgame press conference, urging reporters to 'not make it anything it's not.' 'I wasn't trying to do anything malicious. That's not the type of player I am,' Clark insisted. 'I went for the ball, and that's clear as day in the replay. You watch it... it shouldn't have been upgraded [to a flagrant foul]. But that's up the ref's discretion.' Caitlin Clark received a flagrant foul on this play. Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls. — ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2025 Reese agreed with Clark's assessment in her own postgame press conference, while telling people to 'move on' from the incident in a blunt eight-word response. When asked for her thoughts on Clark's foul, she simply said: 'Basketball play, refs got it right, move on.' Reese and Clark have brought their rivalry from the college ranks with them into the big leagues, having famously clashed on the court during LSU and Iowa's NCAA Championship game in 2023. In a memorable moment, Reese performed Clark's trademark 'You Can't See Me' celebration right in her face as she helped LSU claim victory on the night. Last season they also went head-to-head for the coveted WNBA Rookie of the Year award, with the Indiana sensation ultimately coming out on top. After Clark's foul on Saturday, Reese went on to miss the first of her two throws, which drew huge cheers from the Fever crowd inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, before making the second as Chicago added a layup on the ensuing possession to cut the deficit to 56-45. However, Indiana closed the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a crucial 65-45 lead, and Chicago never really threatened to stage a comeback in the fourth. It was Clark who therefore had the last laugh over her arch-nemesis as the Fever cruised past the Sky 93-58 to open their account in style. It goes down as the largest opening win in franchise history for Indiana. Clark recorded her third career triple-double in the victory after putting up a game-high 20 points, along with 10 rebounds and as many assists. Reese, meanwhile, recorded 17 rebounds, 12 points and an assist as Chicago slumped to an opening-day defeat.
