After calling DiJonai Carrington a “deranged bigot” for poking Caitlin Clark in the eye, veteran analyst hits out at Dawn Staley for her silence

Did Caitlin Clark’s injury affect her Game 1 performance? Source: Getty

The altercation between DiJonai Carrington and Caitlin Clark in the opening minutes of Game 1 between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun has sparked intense debate across media outlets and the internet.

Controversial analyst Jason Whitlock has been vocal in his criticism, labeling Carrington a “deranged bigot” and targeting Stephen A. Smith and Dawn Staley, whom he referred to as “race gifters.”

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“Biggest star in sports (Caitlin Clark) got stabbed in the eye by a deranged bigot… crickets from Staley/Smith” – Jason Whitlock on Stephen A. Smith and Dawn Staley

Whitlock highlighted the lack of attention given to the incident, which left Caitlin Clark with a black eye and visibly struggling on the field during her opening playoff game. He claims that Clark’s treatment as the biggest star in her sport has been unfair, citing bias against her due to her skin color.

To support his argument, Whitlock referenced a 2022 incident involving allegations of racial slurs directed at Duke University volleyball player Rachel Richardson during a match against Brigham Young University. Richardson alleged that she heard strong, negative racial slurs from the BYU student section several times during the matchup, sparking outrage in sporting circles.

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, an outspoken advocate for social justice and racial equality, canceled a scheduled series with BYU citing safety concerns for her players. However, BYU’s investigation found no evidence of inappropriate chanting during the match, which was played in a full arena and broadcast live. Despite this, BYU’s athletic director apologized to Rachel Richardson.

Caitlin Clark denies Carrington eye poke reason behind Game 1 performance

Caitkin Clark played down Dijonai Carrington’s accidental eye poke incident, saying it did not affect her performance in Game 1.

However, despite Clark’s post-game statement, her numbers told a different story.

“I don’t think it affected me, honestly… I felt like I got good shots, they just didn’t go down,” – Caitlin Clark

Clark had a disappointing 4-of-17 shooting night, significantly below her season average of 19 points per game, scoring only 11 points.

Additionally, she struggled from three-point range, converting just 2 of 13 attempts, well below her standard as one of the league’s top three-point shooters. Clark’s uncharacteristic game featured missed shots from familiar shooting positions that she usually exploits.

The Connecticut Sun took advantage, securing a 93-69 win. To stay in the series, the Indiana Fever will need to turn things around quickly in Game 2.