Move over, game strategies and buzzer-beaters—there’s a new WNBA drama in town, and it’s as sharp as a fresh set of acrylics. The WNBA playoffs heated up between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever, but it wasn’t just the scoreboard sparking controversy. In a shocking (and quite literally painful) turn of events, Sun guard DiJonai Carrington gave Fever rookie Caitlin Clark a far-too-personal introduction to her fingernail—with a poke to the eye. Talk about an up-close defense!
With 8:36 left on the clock in the first quarter, Carrington swiped Clark’s face like she was going for a rebound… only the ball wasn’t involved. In a moment that instantly went viral, replays showed what fans are calling “Nailgate”—Carrington’s finger making an unexpected detour into Clark’s eyeball. While some think it was accidental, others are convinced Carrington was using her nails as part of her defensive arsenal, making this incident more than just a foul.
And if you thought this was just about sportsmanship, think again. The nail-to-eye collision raised a deeper, burning question: Why doesn’t the WNBA have a rule about nail length? Seriously, no one’s calling for players to rock stubs, but maybe trimming the talons down a bit could save a future optical disaster.
Nail Length Rule? Never Heard of Her
The WNBA’s rulebook, surprisingly, doesn’t cover nails—or anything that could protect players from being, well, scratched out of their careers. Fans are now calling for action, demanding WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to step up with a regulation, before someone gets more than a bad shooting day.
Sports journalist Jason Whitlock took to X (because we can’t just call it Twitter anymore) to throw some shade at the lack of a nail length policy. He didn’t hold back when ripping Carrington’s poke:
“DiJonai Carrington stabbed Caitlin Clark in the eye with a fingernail. It could’ve damaged the career of the WNBA’s meal ticket and the biggest American women’s sports star of all time. … Carrington should be suspended.”
Suspended? Maybe. Manicure intervention? Definitely.
NBA’s Not So Polished Either
And if you’re wondering if this is just a WNBA problem, think again. The NBA is no stranger to this ‘nail-biting’ issue either. Before his retirement, The Polish Hammer Marcin Gortat pleaded for a nail rule after getting scratched one too many times by Dwight Howard. We’re talking lips, hands, chest—Howard apparently left no part of Gortat unscathed with his savage cuticles. “It’s bad for the players’ health,” Gortat famously grumbled, turning nail trimming into a health advisory.
So, maybe it’s time for both leagues to get a grip on this sharp situation—literally.
Fans Sharpen Their Opinions
While Clark finished the game with 11 points on a dismal 4-for-17 shooting (definitely not her best day, and who could blame her?), the incident left a lasting mark on the fans—both figuratively and on her face. Social media lit up with calls for the WNBA to nail down (pun intended) some rules. One fan dramatically tweeted, “@WNBA needs to ban fingernails before someone loses an eye.” Which, let’s be honest, sounds reasonable, considering Clark played the rest of the game with what was essentially a bruise where her eyeball should’ve been.
Another fan added, “No basketball player should have nails this long. It inhibits her own ball handling, and it’s an injury risk to both her and others.” Well, when your manicure is getting in the way of your dribble, maybe it’s time to make some tough decisions at the salon.
And just to turn up the nail-biting tension, @DrowningAreYou threw out a casual, “I’m willing to bet there are players in the playoffs with longer nails than that.” Which begs the question: Are we just one French tip away from disaster?
What’s Next? Clippers Courtside?
As the WNBA playoffs roll on, the league has yet to address the Carrington-Clark incident. For now, we’re left with viral clips, fan outrage, and a whole lot of speculation about whether we’ll see nail clippers courtside in the future. Until then, players beware—those defensive swipes might come with a side of unwanted facial scratches.