Well, here we are, folks. The WNBA, which is constantly trying to elevate its profile and talent, is once again faced with an awkward situation. Caitlin Clark—let’s face it, she’s the next big thing—ends up on the wrong end of a beatdown, both literally and figuratively.
The Indiana Fever rookie was left battered, bruised, and likely scratching her head after her team got thumped 93-69 by the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 of the WNBA Playoffs. But it’s not just the lopsided scoreline that has people talking. No, it’s the fact that Clark was left sporting a black eye, and the refs couldn’t be bothered to call a foul.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark sporting a black eye after Game 1 loss to Connecticut Sun pic.twitter.com/oK8Fo00AHA
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 22, 2024
Here’s the rub: Dijonai Carrington of the Sun clipped Clark in the eye on a follow-through while contesting a pass. Not only did the refs somehow miss this obvious foul, but now there’s video evidence circulating that suggests Carrington’s little love tap might not have been so accidental. I mean, if you’ve seen the video, Carrington’s hand doesn’t look like it’s just “following through” on a basketball play. Instead, it makes this bizarre, cobra-like motion—a move that looks less like a defensive contest and more like a targeted poke to the eye.
🚨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
Naturally, the internet went wild. Fans are outraged, and rightfully so. This isn’t just any player we’re talking about. Caitlin Clark is the face of the future for the WNBA, and the league has invested a ton into promoting her. You’d think they’d at least protect their rising star from blatant cheap shots. But no, the refs let it slide, and Clark got to leave Game 1 not only with a black eye but also with the kind of officiating snub that’ll have conspiracy theorists buzzing.
Dijonai Carrington caught Caitlin Clark in the eye on a follow through and the referees missed it pic.twitter.com/djKKqwLkVp
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 22, 2024
Let’s also not forget the history between these two. Carrington’s gripe with Clark earlier this year over social issues—yeah, that happened. Carrington seemed to take issue with Clark’s silence on hot-button issues like LGBT rights and BLM, going as far as to accuse her of perpetuating bigotry by not using her platform. So, of course, when this eye-poking incident went down, fans were quick to assume the worst. Given that backstory, Carrington’s action doesn’t exactly scream “oops.”
Now, if the WNBA had any sense, they’d be all over this. There’s already enough chatter out there that some of the league’s veterans might not be thrilled about Clark’s rapid rise to stardom. Jealousy, anyone? The last thing the league needs is for these tensions to spill over into outright dirty play. And even worse, if they allow this incident to slide without any sort of official review or disciplinary action, it’s only going to fuel that narrative.
But let’s give some credit where it’s due. Clark, ever the competitor, didn’t wallow in the controversy. She shrugged off the black eye and took full responsibility for the loss. Her stat line may have been rough—just 4-for-17 from the field and a dismal 2-for-13 from three—but she’s not using any of that as an excuse. She knows she didn’t play up to her potential, and now she’s focused on getting that win back in Game 2. That’s the kind of competitive fire the WNBA needs, not players taking cheap shots at each other.
So, how’s the WNBA going to explain this one? If they want to preserve the integrity of the game—and, more importantly, protect their future stars—they’d better step in and do something. Otherwise, they’ll have a lot more to answer for than just a missed foul call. And believe me, nobody’s going to buy the “accident” story after seeing that video.
