Caitlin Clark adamantly dismissed that there was any intent behind DiJonai Carrington poking her in the eye

Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA playoff appearance obviously didn’t go the way she would have hoped. The Fever dropped Game 1 against the Sun in a 24-point blowout, but on top of that, Clark struggled after taking an accidental poke to the eye from DiJonai Carrington.

Yet, given the narrative that has surrounded Clark and her treatment from WNBA players for much of the season, bad-faith arguments were made that Carrington intentionally poked Clark in the eye.

But you have to give Clark credit: She wasn’t willing to entertain that notion at all. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, she refused to blame Carrington for an accident that happens occasionally in basketball.

Asked Caitlin Clark on what she’d say to the crowd that thinks the Carrington hit to her eye was on purpose: “It wasn’t intentional by any means. You just watched the play, it wasn’t intentional.” pic.twitter.com/HiMNiibpy5

— Matthew Byrne (@MatthewByrne1) September 24, 2024

Clark said:

“It wasn’t intentional by any means. You just watched the play. It wasn’t intentional.”

Carrington also told reporters that she was just trying to make a play on the ball.

DiJonai Carrington on *the play* with Caitlin Clark: “I don’t even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye. It 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.” pic.twitter.com/uh04AxoEtV

— Matthew Byrne (@MatthewByrne1) September 24, 2024

That should really be the end of it, and hopefully that proves true in Wednesday’s Game 2.