In a dramatic turn of events, Caitlyn Clark – the star of the Indiana Fever – sustained an eye injury during a heated 93-69 loss against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The incident in question involved DiJonai Carrington of the Sun, who accidentally struck Clark’s eye with her long fingernail while attempting to block a pass in the first quarter. Slow-motion footage showed Carrington’s hand making contact with Clark’s face during the block attempt, but no foul was called.
After the game, Carrington addressed the media, insisting that she did not intend to hurt Clark. “I didn’t even know I hit her in the eye,” Carrington explained on Tuesday. “I was just trying to make a play on the ball. It was completely unintentional, and that’s not the kind of player I am.”
Clark agreed with Carrington’s explanation, stating that the contact was not intentional. “It definitely wasn’t deliberate. You can watch the play, it’s clear,” Clark said.
However, this isn’t the first time Carrington has been involved in tense moments with Clark. Back in June, Carrington fouled Clark after she caught an inbound pass, then mocked Clark in a way that elicited boos from the home crowd. After the game, Carrington posted a provocative message on social media platform X, defending herself against the backlash.
Carrington isn’t the only opponent who has clashed with Clark this year. Chicago Sky’s Diamond DeShields once sent Clark flying to the floor in a hard foul that was later upgraded to a flagrant foul. Sky forward Chennedy Carter also delivered a controversial hip check to Clark in early June.
The tension between Clark and her WNBA opponents has even spilled onto social media, where some players have spoken out about receiving racist attacks from Clark’s fans. Many have called on Clark to use her influence to address these issues publicly.
Despite the physical challenges and social media controversies, Clark remains focused on her team. As the Fever prepare for the second game of their playoff series, Clark declared, “We can win. I have complete confidence in this team, and we all believe in each other.”
With so much controversy and drama unfolding, the second matchup between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun promises to be intense and explosive. Fans won’t want to miss the exciting action that lies ahead.
