"Why do they hate Caitlin Clark so much?" - Riley Gaines slams DiJonai Carrington over controversial poke at WNBA Rookie of the Year

Riley Gaines has implied that DiJonai Carrington intentionally poked Caitlin Clark during the Indiana Fever vs Connecticut Sun WNBA match on Sunday. Fever went on to lose the match 69-93 as the Rookie guard was held to just 11 points.

Clark was struck by Carrington's fingernail in her eye during the first quarter of the game. While no foul was called during the game, the slow-motion footage showed the Connecticut Sun player bending her hand while coming down from the block.

However, Carrington has denied intentionally poking in the eye of Clark, stating that she isn't that kind of a player. The rookie guard also agreed that it was just part of the play.

"It wasn’t intentional by any means. You just watched the play. It wasn’t intentional," she said

However, former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines believes it to be foul play from Carrington. The All-American honoree implied that the 26-year-old hit Clark on purpose and questioned the hate towards the Fever guard.

"Look at DiJonai Carrington smug smirk when asked about if she intended to gouge Caitlin Clark's eye. Why do they hate Clark so much?" she wrote

Gaines also referred to the slow-motion footage of the controversial moment, stating that the change in Carrington's hand motion meant it was intentional and a foul.

"Video for reference. No foul called. Her hand literally closes, changes direction and b lines it for her eye ???" she wrote

---

Riley Gaines slams Angel Reese for 'attacking' Caitlin Clark

NCAA SWIMMING: MAR 19 Women's Swimming & Diving Championships - Source: Getty

Riley Gaines also rallied in support of Caitlin Clark when she felt the WNBA rookie guard was being attacked by Angel Reese. The Chicago Sky forward had posted a cryptic tweet following its win over New York Liberty in May, writing:

"And that's on getting a WIN in a packed area not just cause of one player on our charter flight. #SKYTOWN," Reese wrote.

Gaines felt it was a dig at Clark, who was almost winning games single-handedly for Indiana Fever, and claimed Reese was showinng 'jealousy and insecurity'.

"Incredibly disheartening to see Angel Reese attack Caitlin Clark like this. Just entirely baseless and distasteful. The tweet screams jealousy and insecurity. Although, Caitlin Clark probably deserved this given she has white, straight, pretty & tall-privilege. Right, @sunny?," she wrote

The tweet was later tweeted by Angel Reese, who was criticized by Gaines again for 'disrespectfully addressing' an official in the WNBA.