Everyone knows the kind of unapologetic behavior that DiJonai Carrington swears by. She doesn’t pay too much heed to the backlash. And it might just be helping her. Because after multiple back-to-back aggressive plays, the die-hard fans are not sitting quietly. Also, it is not just about this season.
Remember September 22, 2024, during the first round of the Playoffs? In the middle of a tight defensive play, DiJonai Carrington went for a steal. She tried to knock the ball away, but instead, she accidentally caught Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark right in the eye. After the game, Carrington successfully shut down any talk of it being intentional. She insisted she didn’t even realize she’d made contact, let alone meant to hurt Clark.
However, the recent incidents seem to be suggesting something else to the viewers. Here, she straight up appeared to pull down Sarah Ashlee Barker by her hair during a heated game against the Sparks. Despite this, the Sparks won 93-79. The incident was ruled a common foul by officials, but it sparked a huge backlash from fans and media. Even fellow players seemed stunned. And Notre Dame star and WNBA rookie Sonia Citron could not help but write, “Nai I can’t defend you anymore ” with a video clip of the foul.
Nai I can’t defend you anymore pic.twitter.com/kK8aC4N8X7
— Sonia Vitamin C(itron) (@SoniaCitronGOAT) June 7, 2025
This comes right after fans had already been calling her a “dirty player,” because of what happened during the Storms game. It was Skylar Diggins at the receiving end of her physical play. However, Carrington was quick to disagree with any negative narratives around her. “Yall fans swear I’m such a dirty player… I’m SO over this narrative bc if u really know bball, u know I just play hard asf & never give up on a play.” She said, further pointing out that the league had actually overturned “the last couple flagrants” called on her, adding, “I’m ALWAYS tryna make a play on the ball, nun more, nun less.”
Basically, she’s claiming she goes all out, but never with bad intentions. And if she does get those fouls rescinded, maybe she’s got a point. But that point cannot be made until she stops leading the league in flagrant fouls this season.
Fans’ Outrage against Dijonai Carrington
Ever since Dijonai Carrington’s minutes increased from 17 to more than 30 last year, her physical play has been the talk of the town. It carried even into the offseason as she left Kate Martin visibly annoyed during one Mists vs Laces game in the Unrivaled. This year, though, with her entering a new team, a rebuilding one at that, fans were hoping they will not see any more of that. After the SAB video, however, everyone is left in disbelief. One fan couldn’t believe their eyes, as they wrote, “Bruh she literally almost ripped her head off.”
Another person fired off dismissing her “non-intentional“ argument, writing, “Idc what anyone says she’s a dirty player. @WNBA do something to protect your players!!!” For the fans, this isn’t just about one bad play anymore. They are calling upon the league to prevent these contacts which it deems “unnecessary” under flagrant fouls before anyone gets seriously injured.
As one viewer put it bluntly: “It is past time for something to be done about Dijonai. She is going to cause someone to get a career-ending injury if she is not dealt with.” The real kicker is that Carrington’s own responses haven’t exactly helped. Last year, in response to the backlash from Clark’s fans, Carrington hopped onto X and fired off a series of defensive posts. One of her tweets read: “Why yall so mad at me & bein mean!? … I jus be hoopin & havin fun mannn … live a littleee.” She did not stop there. When one critic, Paul Szypula, claimed she took aim at Caitlin Clark and then mocked her, Carrington quote-tweeted him with another mocking comment, writing, “BFFR, PAUL.”
Of course, none of that sat well with fans. Honestly, not just fans but also fellow players (as mentioned before) and even analysts. Rachel DeMita was not ready to buy into any argument that defended Carrington. “I’m sorry DiJonai and I don’t know you personally, both of these plays were reckless and you hurt both players… You’re either a reckless player or you’re not a good defender,” she said in one of her recent YT videos.
Jason Whitlock went as far as to say that she should be banned from the league. “Another “accident” from DiJonai Carrington. She should be banned from the WNBA. But no one can dare ask a question about this pattern of behavior. It would be racist,” he posted on X.
Some fans took some sarcastic, brutal digs as well. There were some who said that she is stepping up now that Chennedy Carter isn’t there anymore, while some went straight for her education. “DiJonai Carrington earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Stanford University, one in African and African American Studies and one in Psychology. She also holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Baylor University. Still is a messed up play,” wrote one user.
What didn’t help is that even the announcers were at it, too, without realising most probably. As one of them said, “if she (SAB) would’ve had extensions it would’ve come off”.
In the end, one fan’s request cut deep: “She should publicly apologize—just like she expects everyone else to do.” That one line drove the point home. This isn’t about one rough play. It’s about the impact and the WNBA’s mission to balance fierce competition with player safety. If that balance is lost, the league’s integrity might take a hit.
Fans aren’t just looking for words of regret, they’re demanding real accountability. Because at some point, passion without limits stops being inspiring and starts becoming problematic.
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