DiJonai Carrington addresses eye poke incident during Connecticut's win

During a recent game on Sunday, DiJonai Carrington of the Sun inadvertently poked Caitlin Clark in the eye while attempting to defend a pass. This incident occurred early in the first quarter of Connecticut's 93-69 victory over the Fever. Following the play, Clark fell to her knees in pain and later developed a black eye, but Carrington did not receive a foul for the action. Carrington expressed her frustration with the narrative suggesting that the poke was intentional, stating that it was not in her character to harm another player. In a shoot-around before Game 2, Carrington clarified that she was unaware she had hit Clark and was simply trying to make a play on the ball. She emphasized that her actions were not deliberate and questioned the logic behind the idea of intentionally hitting someone in the eye. The incident has sparked speculation about the physicality of opponents towards Clark throughout the season, which may have contributed to the narrative surrounding the play. Clark, for her part, also dismissed the notion that Carrington had any malicious intent, affirming that the play was unintentional. Despite the incident, Clark struggled in the game, scoring only 11 points with poor shooting statistics. The Fever now face a critical Game 2 in Uncasville, Conn., where they must win to keep their playoff hopes alive. As the series progresses, both players have made it clear that the incident was not meant to be harmful, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship and the need to focus on the game rather than controversies.