Connecticut Sun forward DiJonai Carrington was named the 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player award winner on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, 6-foot-10 guard improved her averages from 8.3 points per game last year to 12.7 this year and from 2.9 rebounds per game last year to 5 this season. She improved her assist average from 1.3 to 1.6.
This year was his first year as a full-time starter. He started 39 games and played a career-high 29.6 minutes per game.
Now, she's making her first playoff appearance as a starter, and the Sun will look to close out the first round with a win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night.
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Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) shoots over Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) in the first half of a game in Indianapolis on Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Carrington has already made headlines in this playoff series for poking Clark in the eye with his nail in the first quarter of Sunday's Game 1. Slow-motion footage showed Carrington bending his hand as he came down from a block attempt, pointing his nails In Clark's face. No foul was called on the play and Carrington said the hit was unintentional.
“I don't even know why I would intend to hit someone in the eye,” Carrington told reporters Tuesday. “That doesn't even make sense to me. But no, I didn't. I actually didn't know I hit her. I was trying to make a play on the ball and I guess I just went ahead and hit her. So obviously it was never intentional. That's not even the type of player I am.”
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Carrington enters Game 2 with his new trophy, the first major league award of his career. A win to end Clark's rookie season would be the final victory in his rivalry with Clark.
During a game in June, Carrington fouled Clark after Clark received a pass from teammate Kristy Wallace. Clark caught the pass and drove to the basket. Carrington was slow to get to Clark because of a block by Aliyah Boston, and collided with Clark.
Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) fouls Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half of a game in Indianapolis on Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Carrington didn't like the decision and thought Clark exaggerated the foul and began mocking the Fever rookie, drawing boos from her own home crowd as she made the gesture.
Later that month, Carrington published in Xsaying Clark should do more to denounce people who use her name for “racist” purposes.
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“Dawg. It's crazy that someone doesn't mind their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, and the intersectionalities of it all,” Carrington wrote. “We all see the [s—]”We all have a platform. We all have a voice and each one carries weight. Silence is a luxury.”
On August 28, after the Fever defeated the Sun 84-80 in Indiana, Carrington posted on X, criticizing Indiana fans.
“The Indiana Fever have the most unpleasant fans in the world,” Carrington wrote.
DiJonai Carrington of the Connecticut Sun defends against the Indiana Fever during Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs on September 22, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
The knockout match between the two teams is likely to see another record TV audience. The first match was watched by an average of 1.84 million, despite the game turning into a thrashing in the second half. The ratings were in line with most of the record numbers for Fever matches.
Clark said his team can get back into the series and make those fans happy.
“We can win,” Clark said. “It's not about the stadium, it's not about the gym, it's not about the hoops. I have all the confidence in the world in this team, and everyone in the locker room does. And I know we'll be a lot better on Wednesday.”
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