It was a cheap shot, not a basketball play—she should have been ejected. That’s what people are saying after Djai Carrington’s dirty move on Caitlyn Clark. Carrington just got suspended for a brutal assault on the WNBA’s brightest star, and this wasn’t your typical shoving match or trash talk. It was an outright poke to the eyeball.
Caitlyn Clark, who’s been torching defenses all season, had to worry about her vision thanks to a third-stringer who resorted to physical attacks to handle Clark’s talent. In the first two minutes of the game, Clark was passing the ball when Carrington swatted at it. Instead of just blocking the shot, she jabbed her fingernails right into Clark’s eye.
But here’s the thing—Clark is not someone you bring down with dirty tactics. These cheap tricks won’t stop her from dominating. And now that she’s been crowned Rookie of the Year, it’s clear her competitors are showing their true colors—green with envy and absolutely no shame in getting dirty.
Carrington’s move wasn’t just reckless; it was downright pathetic. Imagine being so irrelevant on the court that your best contribution is an eye poke in the first two minutes of a playoff game, no less. Sure, Clark’s numbers were lower than usual after the incident, but Carrington didn’t stop her—she just made her angrier.
Even with a literal handicap, Clark still managed 11 points and eight assists, which is more than Carrington probably contributed in her last five games combined. Carrington tried to take out one of the league’s best players with a desperate stunt, and now she’s the internet’s latest punchline. Fans, analysts, and even Stephen A. Smith couldn’t help but call her out, blasting her for turning what should have been a competitive series into a circus.
The WNBA has to take this seriously. If Carrington gets off with just a slap on the wrist, it’s a message that dangerous, unsportsmanlike play is acceptable. Caitlyn Clark is the face of the league’s future. She’s a box-office star, drawing attention and revenue. The league has no choice but to protect players like her if it wants to keep growing.
In the end, Carrington didn’t knock Clark down—she just embarrassed herself and exposed her lack of class. Whether it’s a fine, suspension, or worse, Carrington’s legacy will now be forever tied to this cheap shot. She won’t be remembered for her game, only her antics.
