The WNBA playoffs are in the news for a controversial incident involving Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. A new video shows Carrington possibly poking Clark in the eye during their playoff game, upsetting many fans and starting discussions about player safety and the referees’ decisions.
This event happened just 90 seconds into the game when Carrington hit Clark’s eye, which left her with a noticeable black eye by halftime. Many fans were disappointed when the referees didn’t call a foul, leading to criticism of their officiating.
Recently, a slow-motion clip of the Carrington eye poke incident on X (formerly Twitter) was shared, and fans of the Fever and Caitlin Clark reacted strongly, expressing their anger and frustration toward Dijonai Carrington. One person said, “Definitely intentional. She should be removed.”
DiJonai Carrington and Caitlin Clark (Photo via @ABostonPost/Twitter)
🚨Video evidence suggests Dijonai Carrington may have intentionally hit Caitlin Clark early in the first quarter of the Sun v. Fever playoff game, resulting in a black eye.
No foul was called. The #WNBA needs to investigate immediately. Does this look unintentional to you? pic.twitter.com/ue2Sf03e9O
— The Boston Post (@ABostonPost) September 23, 2024
Another commented, “It’s intentional. How much validation does one need.”
Another person lent full support to Caitlin Clark and didn’t hold back their feelings at all, criticizing Dijonai Carrington, saying, “Look at her hand. She is bending her fingers down to jab her in the eyes. She knew exactly what she was doing. The WNBA needs to stop this. Carrington should not be allowed to play in the next few games and fined along with apologizing to Clark.”
One person commented, “That’s not a foul that’s assault. She literally tried blinding the star player of the entire WNBA.”
Her past controversies have made the situation even more intense. So far, she has not publicly commented on the incident, leaving fans to wonder about her intentions.
Caitlin Clark’s Playoff Struggles And Controversy Highlight Ongoing Issues In The WNBA
Caitlin Clark’s much-anticipated playoff debut didn’t go well as the Indiana Fever lost to the Connecticut Sun, 93-69. Even though Clark brushed off the eye injury, she struggled in the game, scoring only 11 points, much less than her usual average.
She shot 4-of-17 from the field and 2-of-13 from three-point range. After a short break to regroup, she said in a post-game interview, “Obviously, she got me pretty good in the eye.” She also mentioned, “I got good shots. They didn’t go down. It’s a tough time for that to happen,” downplaying how the injury affected her play.
This controversy has taken attention away from the WNBA’s record-breaking season, with increased attendance and interest driven by players like Caitlin Clark. However, it has also highlighted the league’s ongoing issues with officiating and player safety.
The Fever and Sun are getting ready to play Game 2 of their playoff series, and everyone will be paying close attention to Clark and Carrington. Fans are eager to see how this incident affects the game and how the league will respond to the raised concerns. The WNBA’s actions will be important for keeping the trust and support of its growing fanbase.
