WNBA Fight Erupts: 3 Players Ejected, But One Angle Tells a Different Story

A WNBA clash between the Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun turned explosive after a hard foul spiraled into chaos. Bria Hartley hit the floor, Sophie Cunningham stood over her, and tempers ignited. Within seconds, benches cleared, security scrambled, and three players were ejected: Cunningham, Hartley, and rookie guard Aaliyah Simmons.

But a fan-shot slow-motion clip tells another story. The footage shows Simmons stepping in with her arms out, mouthing “Stop. Back up.” She never shoved, never swung — and yet the referee pointed her out. Fans erupted online with hashtags like #FreeAaliyah and #SlowMoDidntLie, blasting the league for punishing a peacemaker.

The WNBA called it “an unfortunate incident,” but sponsors and analysts are demanding answers. Why did the official broadcast cut away just as the fight began — and why was Simmons made the scapegoat?

One thing’s clear: the slow-mo didn’t lie.