By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-25 14:10:08 | Updated at 2024-09-30 21:42:02
5 days ago
The collision that left Caitlin Clark with a black eye was not the result of any intention to harm the Indiana Fever rookie, says Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington.
'I don't even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye,' Carrington told reporters Tuesday following the Sun's 93-69 win over the Fever in Game 1 of their playoff series. 'That doesn't even make sense to me. But, no, I didn't. I didn't know I hit her, actually. I was trying to make a play on the ball, and I guess I followed through, and I hit her. So, obviously, it's never intentional. That's not even like the type of player that I am.'
Carrington was seen laughing later in the game, which many online critics perceived as a response to Clark's eye injury.
Again, Carrington denied that she was laughing about Clark's eye injury: I can't laugh about something I didn't know happened.'
The collision, which Clark admits 'wasn't intentional by any means,' played out on ESPN as Connecticut was en route to a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three first-round series
I asked DiJonai Carrington about that moment early in Sunday’s Indiana-Connecticut game when she caught Caitlin Clark in the eye. Here’s her answer: pic.twitter.com/DnQVYi0r6J
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) September 24, 2024No foul was called despite the contact leaving the 22-year-old in agony on the floor
Clark was sporting a clear shiner on her right eye in her postgame press conference
DiJonai Carrington denied hurting Clark intentionally, and the Fever rookie has moved on
As Clark picked up her dribble at the top of the key and delivered a pass to teammate Aliyah Boston, Carrington attempted to deflect the delivery, only for her finger to catch the Fever guard's face. Curiously, no foul was called on the play.
Slightly bruised, Clark dismissed the notion of any serious injury on Tuesday.
'[It] feels good,' she said. 'It looks OK, too, so I'm glad.'
But while Clark is over it, many are blaming everything from Carrington's nails to a league conspiracy.
'Dijonai Carrington stabbed Caitlin Clark in the eye with a fingernail,' tweeted sports podcaster Jason Whitlock. 'It could've damaged the career of the WNBA's meal ticket and the biggest American women's sports star of all time. ESPN and the WNBA have yet to address this story. Carrington should be suspended.'
One of Whitlock's followers responded: 'Dijonai's long nails and Dijonai extending them into Caitlin Clark's eyes. It was malicious and done with intent. Dijonai should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs.'
Just 90 seconds into the playoff game Clark was knocked to the ground by Connecticut guard DiJonai Carrington, who appeared to poke her while trying to block the ball
Jason Whitlock claimed 'Dijonai Carrington stabbed Caitlin Clark in the eye with a fingernail'
Another commenter suggested Carrington's nails are part of a WNBA plot to make the game more dangerous.
'Always wondered why WNBA allows women players to wear fingernails like daggers for just that reason,' one woman wrote on X. 'It's a very physical game.'
'The WNBA encourages it,' one fan declared. 'How do we know? Because they will not address it!'
Carrington actually has shorter nails, undermining some of her critics' arguments, but she does have history with Clark.
Most notably, in June, Clark took a hard foul from Carrington, who mocked her rival guard by mimicking the Fever rookie's reaction to the contact.
'But I'm a racist, jealous, c***, monkey, hatin a** b**** who needs to go back to Africa when I do it huh?' Carrington wrote on social media afterwards. 'plssss. Like I said, this is basketball.'
Carrington has also specifically called out Clark's hometown supporters: 'The indiana fever have the nastiest fans in the W. ew.'
