There’s no hard feelings between Caitlin Clark and DiJonai Carrington, the Indiana Fever star clarified to reporters on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Clark, 22, explained that she believes Carrington, 26, didn’t intentionally poke her in the eye early in the first quarter of their WNBA playoff game on Sunday, Sept. 22. The incident left the WNBA Rookie of the Year with a black eye, sparking a wave of fan reactions on social media.
“It wasn’t intentional by any means, just watch the play,” Clark told reporters, according to The Indianapolis Star, laughing off the notion that Carrington deliberately jabbed her in the eye.
The newspaper noted that Clark’s black eye was “barely noticeable” two days after the incident, which occurred about 90 seconds into the game. Clark remained on the floor until a referee stopped the game one play later.
“It feels good,” Clark smiled, according to the Star. “It looks okay too.”
Controversy surrounding the lay grew as Clark struggled in her first WNBA playoff appearance, describing it as a “frustrating” game. She shot just 2-for-13 from three-point range and 23.5% overall from the field, a significant drop from the 41.7% she averaged during her historic regular season. Carrington’s Connecticut Sun secured a 93-69 victory over the Fever, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three playoff series.
“I felt like we just played a crappy game,” Clark said afterward, according to USA Today.
Carrington also defended herself following the Sept. 22 game, when asked if the eye poke was intentional.
“I don’t even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye,” the Connecticut Sun player responded, according to ESPN. “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 hit her. Obviously, it’s never intentional. That’s not the type of player I am.”
On social media, some fans criticized the play, sharing slowed-down footage and accusing Carrington of trying to injure Clark. Others argued it was a split-second incident, with Carrington attempting to block Clark’s three-point shot,.
Caitlin Clark says her black eye ‘feels good’ and that DiJonai Carrington’s eye poke ‘wasn’t intentional.’ Both players dismissed the speculation that the physical play in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff series was deliberate.
