Dallas Wings Player Defends Her Playing Style Amid Criticism

Dallas, Texas — Controversial Dallas Wings player Kelsey Carrington addressed fans who claim she plays “dirty” in a social media post on Wednesday. She wrote, “Y’all fans swear I’m such a dirty player. I’m SO over this narrative because if you really know basketball, you know I just play hard and never give up on a play,” adding a heart emoji.

Carrington’s statement followed a game against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, where she received a flagrant-1 foul in the fourth quarter after making contact with Skylar Diggins while attempting to block her shot. Diggins fell hard to the court after the collision. Following the incident, Carrington was seen sitting on the bench with her eyes closed.

Her social media post also comes in the wake of another recent incident, where she was involved in a heated exchange with a referee during a game against the Chicago Sky last Thursday. According to witnesses, a security guard was called to intervene, prompting Carrington to criticize the action as a “microaggression.”

“Security… when I’m literally having a civil conversation is insane,” she expressed in a post on X. “Mind you, he called the ‘security’ over there…” Carrington has previously defended herself against criticism from fans and media alike, linking their comments to wider societal attitudes.

In an episode of Angel Reese’s podcast, “Unapologetically Angel,” Carrington and Reese discussed their experiences with harsh fan criticism. “They be real loose at the mouth,” she said, suggesting the comments come from people they encounter regularly. She later mentioned how comments regarding her appearance, particularly her blonde hair, annoy her. “I got black eyebrows. I got black arm hair, black leg hair … and I don’t care. I’m still a natural blonde,” she stated.

Carrington has had her share of controversies in previous seasons as well. While playing for the Connecticut Sun last year, she poked Caitlin Clark in the eye during a playoff game, resulting in Clark receiving a black eye. Though Carrington later insisted it was unintentional, she appeared to make light of the incident in an Instagram Live video with her girlfriend.

Additionally, earlier this season, Carrington made headlines for her political statements while attending games, notably wearing a shirt reading, “The F— Donald Trump Tour.” After one game, she emphasized the need for WNBA players to respond to changes in political policies affecting women and LGBTQ rights.

With ongoing scrutiny from fans and the league, Carrington remains outspoken about her views both on and off the court.