Caitlin Clark vs. DiJonai Carrington: Inside budding rivalry, stats between Fever star and Sun guard

Stephen Noh

•
Caitlin Clark vs. DiJonai Carrington: Inside budding rivalry, stats between Fever star and Sun guard image

Caitlin Clark and DiJonai Carrington were bound to be rivals.

Clark is the most dynamic guard in the WNBA and Carrington is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Their matchup on the court has been must-watch, and they've had drama off the court that has captivated fans. 

Now, the two will face off as the Fever and Sun meet in the 2024 WNBA playoffs.

Here is the history between the two players who will take center stage in the first round.

MORE: Using AI to see how far Caitlin Clark will go in WNBA playoffs

Caitlin Clark vs. DiJonai Carrington rivalry timeline

Preseason: DiJonai Carrington praises Caitlin Clark

Carrington was a fan of Clark's when Clark was at Iowa. 

A week before Clark was even drafted into the WNBA, Carrington tweeted a prediction about her that turned out to be spot-on. 

What made Carrington's prediction even more noteworthy is that her Sun teammate, Alyssa Thomas, had just set the record for assists in a season. In an ultimate sign of respect, Carrington knew that Clark was capable of challenging Thomas.

That wasn't the first time that Carrington praised Clark's college play either. A month earlier, Carrington tweeted that "Caitlin better win POTY or it’s rigged. There, I said it."

June 10: DiJonai Carrington takes exception to Caitlin Clark's flopping

The Sun blew out the Fever 89-72 on June 10, but that game will be remembered more for Carrington suggesting that Clark was exaggerating contact on one of her fouls. 

Carrington received plenty of backlash from Fever fans, which kicked off their heated rivalry. 

MORE: Here's the difference between Caitlin Clark being MVP and struggling rookie

June 13: Carrington criticizes Clark's silence, Clark responds and (eventually) denounces racists

During a morning shootaround, Clark was asked about fans using her name as part of political or racist agendas.

Clark responded, "I don’t see it. I don’t see it. That’s not where my focus is. My focus is here and on basketball. That’s where it needs to be, that’s where it has been, and I’m just trying to get better on a daily basis."

That response angered many, including Carrington, who suggested that Clark needed to be more outspoken. 

Clark was asked to clarify her comments later that day. When asked more specifically about people using her name, she told The Athletic's James Boyd that "people should not be using my name to push those agendas... Everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect. The women in our league deserve the same amount of respect.”

June 17: Carrington goes at Caitlin Clark fans again

Carrington's criticism made her a big target for Clark fans, particularly those who did not agree with her political and social views. She wasn't backing down, though. 

On June 17, Carrington tweeted, "Unfortunately for yall new fAnS, we do not just 'shut up and dribble' here. Ya picked the wrong league."

Aug. 28: Caitlin Clark responds to DiJonai Carrington's trash talk

In the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the Fever and Sun, Indiana secured its first win. It was a closely contested game in which the Fever took down 84-80, thanks to Clark's 19 points. 

A pivotal sequence in the game occurred in the third quarter after Clark and Carrington exchanged baskets. After drilling a 3, Carrington put her finger to her lips to quiet the home crowd. Clark immediately responded with a layup. She was met with a hard foul on her next trip down. 

After the loss, Carrington tweeted that "the indiana fever have the nastiest fans in the W. ew."

Sep. 22: DiJonai Carrington pokes Caitlin Clark in the eye in first playoff game

Less than two minutes into the Fever's Game 1 playoff matchup against the Sun, Carrington and Clark had their first big moment. Carrington hit Clark in the face while trying to contest her jump shot, resulting in Clark falling to the floor and grabbing her face. 

Clark got Carrington back in the third quarter, hitting the Sun guard in the face and knocking her contact lens out.

Clark seemed to have gotten the worst of it, though. She sported a black eye after the game. 

Clark had a disappointing playoff debut, scoring just 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting in the Fever's 93-69 loss. 

MORE: WNBA playoff picks, predictions for 2024 bracket

Caitlin Clark vs. DiJonai Carrington stats

Carrington's Sun have a 3-1 regular season advantage on Clark's Fever. Carrington has played some of her best basketball in those matchups, while Clark has struggled with her shooting percentages and turnovers. 

Caitlin ClarkStatDiJonai Carrington
16.5Points17.8
3.8Assists2.0
2.0Rebounds3.5
6.3Turnovers1.3
1.0Steals3.0
39.2%Field Goal %48.1%
34.3%3-point %25.0%

Clark has had some noteworthy buckets on Carrington. For the most part, though, Carrington has guarded her about as well as anyone. Clark has struggled with the ball pressure that Carrington is capable of applying. 

What makes the situation even more interesting is that Carrington is a free agent this summer. The Fever could use a defensive-minded guard to pair next to Clark. Carrington is also dating Clark's teammate, NaLyssa Smith.

Carrington's disdain for Fever fans might make a pairing unlikely, but she would be a great addition on paper to their team. 

Stephen Noh

Stephen Noh Photo

Stephen Noh started writing about the NBA as one of the first members of The Athletic in 2016. He covered the Chicago Bulls, both through big outlets and independent newsletters, for six years before joining The Sporting News in 2022. Stephen is also an avid poker player and wrote for PokerNews while covering the World Series of Poker from 2006-2008.