$500K Fine, 5 Game Suspension & More Predicted for Dijonai Carrington After Her Raunchy Taunt on Caitlin Clark Goes Viral.

Basketball player Dijonai Carrington has stirred up a media frenzy with her outrageous claim regarding a hefty $500,000 fine imposed for an incident involving fellow player Caitlin Clark.

The incident has sparked polarized reactions. Many fans, analysts, and former players have expressed dismay over Carrington’s actions. Critics argue that taunting of this nature sends a negative message to young fans and undermines the hard work that female athletes have done to gain respect in the sporting world.

“I understand the intensity of competition, but there’s a difference between trash talk and outright disrespect,” said former WNBA star Tamika Catchings. “The WNBA should be sending a message that while we love competition, we expect players to hold themselves to a higher standard.”

However, some fans have come to Carrington’s defense, suggesting that the intensity of the game and the emotional highs and lows of competition are what make basketball exciting. “It was a moment of passion, not something meant to be taken seriously,” one fan tweeted. “Athletes are allowed to show emotion on the court, and Carrington was just being herself. The WNBA shouldn’t overreact.”

As the fallout from the incident continues to unfold, it is clear that the WNBA intends to make an example of Dijonai Carrington. The rumored $500,000 fine and five-game suspension would be one of the most severe punishments ever handed down by the league.

Carrington, who has made a name for herself as a talented and fiery competitor, could face additional penalties beyond the fine and suspension, including community service or mandatory sensitivity training. These measures are part of the WNBA’s larger effort to maintain control over its brand and uphold the standards of conduct expected from its players.

Dijonai Carrington appears to have her own joke for infamous Caitlin Clark eye poke incident

Connecticut Sun star Dijonai Carrington appeared to have fun with the infamous Caitlin Clark eye poke earlier this week.

Carrington seemed to crack a joke about the incident to NaLyssa Smith, her girlfriend and Indiana Fever teammate of Clark’s, while the pair was on Instagram Live.

“Ow!” she said before telling Smith, “You poked me in the eye,” with a smile in what was ultimately a light-hearted moment.

The interaction was an apparent call back to the eye poke incident Carrington had with Clark in the WNBA playoffs, which was a competitive moment, according to both athletes.

Clark and Carrington attempted to make clear that the incident was not intentional after it happened.

DiJonai Carrington plays defense on Caitlin Clark during Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs.NBAE via Getty Images

The narrative of the incident escalated when USA Today reporter Christine Brennan questioned Carrington (and not Clark) on the eye poke, asking the Sun guard, “When you went and kind of swatted at Caitlin, did you intend to hit her in the eye?” last month.

The WNBA Players Association then called Brennan out by name in a statement on her reporting of the incident.

Carrington made light of that controversy while live on social media, asking Smith, “Did you do it on purpose?”

Dijonai Carrington poked Caitlin Clark in the eye while going for the ball. She denied that it was intentional. Clark shook it off.@logo3sports/X

While Clark did win Rookie of the Year in a high-profile season, Carrington enjoyed a breakout year, establishing herself as a standout two-way guard en route to winning the award for Most Improved Player in the W.

Carrington also finished tied for fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting and was named to the WNBA’s All-Defensive First Team.