The WNBA has seen some iconic matchups over the years, but the budding rivalry between Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington has captivated fans in ways that are both thrilling and occasionally, eyebrow-raising. What happens when the league’s most dynamic guard meets one of the top perimeter defenders? Sparks fly—on and off the court. Buckle up, because this is one rivalry that has it all: on-court drama, social media battles, and even a little eye-poking action.
The Backstory: From Mutual Respect to Heated Exchanges
Before things got spicy, DiJonai Carrington actually started off as a Caitlin Clark fan—yes, you read that right. Back in the days when Clark was dropping bombs from downtown in college hoops, Carrington wasn’t shy about giving her props. In fact, a week before Clark was drafted, Carrington had already called her one of the future faces of the WNBA. And let’s be real: when you’re already praising someone before they’ve even set foot in the league, it’s bound to make headlines.
Carrington’s Sun teammate, Alyssa Thomas, had just set a league record for assists, and Carrington didn’t flinch when predicting Clark would come close to challenging that feat. If that’s not the ultimate “I respect your game” moment, what is?
But like all great rivalries, things took a hard left turn. Carrington went from supporter to critic, and Fever vs. Sun matchups became must-watch TV, not just for basketball reasons but also for the inevitable fireworks.
The Rivalry Timeline: Drama Unfolds, Twitter Fingers Fly
Let’s take a deep dive into how this rivalry escalated from a few compliments to all-out beef.
Preseason: Carrington Praises Clark’s Potential
Even before Clark was officially part of the WNBA, Carrington was on Twitter predicting big things for her, claiming that Clark would shake things up. Carrington’s admiration wasn’t just surface-level either; she’d been following Clark’s college career closely. In March, Carrington tweeted, “Caitlin better win POTY or it’s rigged. There, I said it.” Bold words that aged like fine wine, huh?
June 10: Flopping? Really, Caitlin?
Fast forward to June, and the honeymoon phase was officially over. During a blowout 89-72 win for the Sun over the Fever, Carrington didn’t hold back when she hinted that Clark was putting on her best soccer player impression—aka flopping. This accusation set the internet ablaze, and Fever fans weren’t having it. The “heated rivalry” sign was officially lit, and it hasn’t been turned off since.
June 13: Carrington Calls Out Clark for Silence on Social Issues
Three days later, the off-court drama hit a new high. During a shootaround, Clark was asked about how her name had been used in some political and racial narratives, to which she replied, “I don’t see it.” Oof. Carrington, along with others, wasn’t thrilled with that response, suggesting that Clark should be more outspoken.
Carrington’s critique didn’t sit well with Clark fans, who flooded social media to defend their hero. Still, Clark did eventually clarify her comments, stating that her name should never be used to promote divisive agendas and that everyone in the WNBA deserves respect—cue the diplomatic round of applause.
June 17: Carrington vs. Clark’s Fans – Round 2
Just when things seemed to be calming down, Carrington threw fuel on the fire again. On June 17, she tweeted, “Unfortunately for yall new fAnS, we do not just ‘shut up and dribble’ here. Ya picked the wrong league.” Clark’s fanbase clapped back hard, but Carrington stayed firm in her stance. The back-and-forth battles between Carrington and Clark’s fans became almost as entertaining as the games themselves.
August 28: The Trash Talk Continues, On-Court Drama Heats Up
After several rounds of trash talk and Twitter beef, the Fever finally beat the Sun 84-80 on August 28, with Clark dropping 19 points. But the game wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about the moment.
In the third quarter, Carrington nailed a 3-pointer and put her finger to her lips, silencing the home crowd. Clark, not one to back down, responded with a slick layup on the very next possession, only to get knocked down hard on her following drive. Talk about drama!
After the loss, Carrington wasn’t done either. She took to Twitter (again) to bash Fever fans, calling them the “nastiest fans in the W.” Shots fired, again.
September 22: Eye-Poking and Contact Lens Drama in the Playoffs
The rivalry hit its most physical chapter during the Fever and Sun’s first-round playoff game on September 22. Carrington, never one to shy away from a physical challenge, accidentally (or was it?) poked Clark in the eye while contesting a jump shot. Clark hit the floor clutching her face, setting the stage for an intense game.
In true you-got-me-I’ll-get-you-back fashion, Clark retaliated in the third quarter, hitting Carrington in the face and knocking out her contact lens. But Clark seemed to come out worse for wear—sporting a black eye post-game. To top it off, Clark’s playoff debut was far from spectacular, as she finished with just 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting in the Fever’s brutal 93-69 loss.
The Numbers Game: Clark vs. Carrington Stats
So, what do the numbers say? Let’s break down their head-to-head stats over the course of the regular season.
Player | Points | Assists | Rebounds | Turnovers | Steals | Field Goal % | 3-Point % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caitlin Clark | 16.5 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 39.2% | 34.3% |
DiJonai Carrington | 17.8 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 48.1% | 25.0% |
As the numbers suggest, Carrington’s defense has given Clark plenty of headaches. Clark, known for her offensive prowess, has struggled with turnovers when facing the aggressive on-ball pressure Carrington applies. But don’t let these stats fool you—Clark has had her share of highlight-reel moments in their matchups, even if the wins haven’t always followed.
What’s Next? Could They Become Teammates?
This rivalry might get even juicier next season. Carrington is set to become a free agent, and the Indiana Fever could really use a defensive-minded guard. But there’s a catch: Carrington is currently dating Fever star NaLyssa Smith, and let’s not forget that she has some pretty strong feelings about Fever fans.
Would Carrington swallow her disdain for the fans and join forces with Clark in Indiana? It’s a tantalizing possibility, but given the intensity of this rivalry, it might be a bit of a stretch.
The Rivalry the WNBA Needs
Clark vs. Carrington is the kind of rivalry that the WNBA needs to grab headlines and keep fans talking. From Carrington’s initial admiration to the Twitter beef, eye-poking playoff moments, and potential future team-up, this matchup has it all. Whether you’re Team Clark or Team Carrington, one thing’s for sure—this rivalry isn’t cooling down anytime soon.
The next time they step onto the court, you better be watching. Because with this much history and drama, there’s no telling what might happen next.