It was basically the moment the entire WNBA world had been waiting for. Sunday, September 22, 2024. Mohegan Sun Arena. Caitlin Clark, the most hyped rookie in the history of women’s basketball, was making her professional playoff debut. The energy was electric, but things went south almost immediately.
Barely 90 seconds into the first quarter, the script flipped.
Clark was looking to make a pass when Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington reached out to contest. In a split-second, bang-bang play, Carrington’s fingernails caught Clark directly in the face. Specifically, Caitlin Clark poked in eye territory. She went down hard. No whistle. No foul. The game just… kept going while the generational talent was clutching her face on the hardwood.
The Play That Sparked a Thousand Debates
Honestly, if you watch the replay, it’s pretty jarring. Carrington is trailing Clark, her hand follows through after a swipe at the ball, and her fingers land right in Clark's right eye. By the end of the third quarter, it wasn't just a "poke" anymore—a visible black eye was forming.
Fans on social media went absolutely nuclear. You’ve probably seen the theories. Some people were convinced it was a "heat-seeking missile" aimed at Clark’s face. Others claimed it was just the reality of playoff basketball. The lack of a foul call from the officials only added fuel to the fire.
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The Fever went on to lose that game 93-69. Clark finished with 11 points on a rough 4-of-17 shooting night. She looked off. She was 2-of-13 from deep. Naturally, everyone assumed the eye injury was the reason she couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.
What Caitlin Clark Said About the Injury
Most players would use a black eye as a built-in excuse for a bad shooting night. Not Clark. Postgame, she was pretty blunt about it.
"Obviously got me pretty good in the eye," she told reporters, sporting a clear bruise. "I don't think it affected me, honestly. I felt like I got good shots, they just didn't go down."
She basically laughed off the idea that there was any malicious intent. She even told the Indianapolis Star a few days later that it was "barely noticeable" and that she felt good. She’s always been one to downplay the drama, even when the internet is trying to start a war on her behalf.
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Was it Intentional? Carrington Speaks Out
DiJonai Carrington found herself at the center of a massive controversy overnight. The narrative that she intentionally targeted Clark grew so loud that she had to address it directly.
"I don't even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye," Carrington said to ESPN. "That doesn't even make sense to me."
She explained she was just trying to make a play on the ball and didn't even realize she’d made contact until later. It’s worth noting that later in that same game, Clark accidentally elbowed Carrington in the head, knocking out her contact lens. Basketball is a physical, chaotic game. Sometimes people just get hit.
The Lingering Impact on the Fever's Playoff Run
While the Caitlin Clark poked in eye incident dominated the news cycle, the real story was the Connecticut Sun’s suffocating defense. They didn't need a poke to throw Clark off her rhythm—they used a physical, veteran defensive scheme that the Fever struggled to solve.
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Interestingly, while Clark finished the 2024 season healthy, her 2025 campaign was a different story. As we saw this past year, Clark struggled with a string of unrelated injuries, including a quad strain and a season-ending groin injury in July. It’s a reminder of how grueling the WNBA schedule really is.
Looking back at that playoff game, the "poke" was more of a symbol than a season-defining injury. It represented the "welcome to the playoffs" moment for a rookie who had a massive target on her back from day one.
How to Protect Against Basketball Eye Injuries
If you’re a player and you’re worried about ending up with a black eye like Caitlin’s, there are a few practical things you can actually do.
- Consider Sports Goggles: They aren't just for the 90s anymore. High-impact polycarbonate lenses are the only real way to prevent a finger to the eye.
- Keep Your Hands Up, But Disciplined: Coaches always say "hands up," but teaching players to contest with their palms rather than reaching with fingers can prevent these "accidental" pokes.
- Referee Awareness: If you're coaching, making sure officials are aware of excessive "face guarding" early in the game can help keep the play clean.
The 2024 playoff incident was a wild moment in WNBA history, but as Clark herself said, it’s just part of the game. She’s expected to be back at 100% for the 2026 season opener, and you can bet the intensity won't be any lower.
To stay updated on Clark's recovery and the Fever's 2026 roster moves, you should monitor the official WNBA injury reports and the Indiana Fever's team announcements as the preseason approaches.