Caitlin Clark Addresses Eye Poke Incident Ahead of Pivotal Game
UNCASVILLE, Conn. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark spoke to the media on Tuesday regarding the eye poke she suffered during Game 1 of the playoff series against the Connecticut Sun. Clark reassured fans that her right eye is feeling much better and firmly dismissed any claims that the incident was intentional.
In the first quarter of Sunday’s 93-69 loss, Clark was inadvertently poked in the eye by Sun player DiJonai Carrington. The impact left some bruising, but by Tuesday, Clark noted that the swelling had significantly decreased. “It feels good. It looks OK too, so I’m glad,” she said during her media availability.
The incident has sparked considerable discussion on social media, prompting Carrington to respond when asked about her intentions. “I don’t even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye,” she said. “That doesn’t even make sense to me. But no, I didn’t. I didn’t know I hit her, actually. I was trying to make a play on the ball.” Carrington emphasized that she is not the type of player to intentionally harm anyone on the court.
Clark echoed this sentiment, stating, “It wasn’t intentional by any means. Just watch the play.” She expressed confidence in her team’s ability to rebound from the loss, emphasizing the importance of making necessary adjustments for their upcoming Game 2.
With their season on the line, the Fever are determined to turn the tide in this series. Clark pointed to a previous victory over the Sun on August 28, where they secured an 84-80 win, as proof of their potential. “We know we’re capable of beating this team. Obviously, they’re really, really good, and we know it’ll be a challenge, but I don’t think it’s anything we’re shying away from. I think you just embrace the challenge,” she said.
Despite the scoreline in Game 1, Clark highlighted that the Fever had narrowed the gap to as few as six points at one stage. “We had it to six points. We had it to eight points. It was just we could never really get over the hump,” she reflected.
Fever head coach Christie Sides echoed Clark’s sentiments, expressing disappointment in the team’s defensive performance. “We’ve done a really good job defensively in our schemes, and I don’t think we did a great job of making it really hard on them, especially with some of the shots that they took,” Sides explained. She noted the need for adjustments to tighten their defense and make it more challenging for the Sun to score.
As the Fever prepare for a critical Game 2, Clark emphasized the importance of perseverance. “I don’t want this to end… I feel like it’s been a very special year for our organization. Our goal is to get to the playoffs, but everybody in our locker room believes we can win this series. This is obviously a must-win for us, and we believe we can come in here and win that.”
With the Fever facing elimination, the stakes are high, and Clark is ready to lead her team with determination and focus. The upcoming game promises to be a crucial test of their resolve and ability to adapt under pressure.
