For months, the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game on June 18, 2025, topped the list as the most violent matchup. But that title no longer belongs to the WNBA!

Instead, the High Point Panthers vs. Winthrop game has taken that spot, and not without consequences. That’s because the Big South Conference is now considering disciplinary action following a late-game altercation.

The incident occurred in the closing seconds of High Point’s 88–74 win in Rock Hill. A video from the game quickly went viral on social media. It appeared that Winthrop’s Tocarra Johnson was throwing hands at a Panthers player while being closely guarded in the high post.

The clip does not show any retaliation from the High Point player as officials stepped in quickly to stop the fight. Still, the damage was already done once the video spread.

Big South Conference commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery then released a statement addressing the incident.

She said the conference “holds all student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and representatives of institutional interest to the highest standards of ethical conduct and sportsmanship” and “unethical conduct—and specifically fighting—will not be tolerated at any level.”

Not just that, the conference also confirmed it is reviewing the matter and will take swift and appropriate action to address the situation and prevent future incidents.

As of Friday, however, no disciplinary measures had been announced. While shocking, this is not the first time an on-court fight has erupted in NCAA women’s basketball.

The NCAA Turned Physical Two Years Ago

A similar incident occurred on January 25, 2024, during a game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Maryland Terrapins. The altercation began in the third quarter when Chyra Evans knocked the ball off an opponent’s foot.

Michigan’s Lauren Hansen and Maryland’s Bri McDaniel collided while battling for the loose ball. Even after the whistle blew, the two continued wrestling for possession. And, the situation quickly escalated. 

Hansen appeared to throw an elbow and at least one punch. McDaniel attempted to swing back before teammates and officials broke it up. Then, both players were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.

Typically, coaches condemn such behavior after players come to blows. Brenda Frese, however, took a different approach.

“I thought it was going to motivate us,” she said during the postgame press conference. “But it didn’t really rally us in any way. I thought Michigan was just a lot more inspired.”

But while Maryland escaped without further fallout, Winthrop’s Tocarra Johnson may not be as fortunate.

You can read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu