DiJonai Carrington Faces Jason Whitlock Critique After Latest Foul Play: “She Should be Banned”

DiJonai Carrington is being flamed by Jason Whitlock and WNBA fans for a non-basketball play against Sarah Ashlee Barker.

DiJonai Carrington Faces Jason Whitlock Critique After Latest Foul Play: “She Should be Banned”

Dijonai Carrington (Image via Wikimedia)

One of the things that WNBA players aren’t lacking in is physicality in their play. They pride themselves on making their opponents uncomfortable, making their movement tough and imposing their will. There is a lot more physicality on display in WNBA play than NBA play, which is quite surprising. However, a few, like DiJonai Carrington, have often overstepped the line of physicality and put themselves into dangerous situations.

DiJonai Carrington has already been under the microscope over the past year for her extremely physical defense on Caitlin Clark. The Dallas Wings guard was named to the All-WNBA Defensive First Team in 2024 and also won Most Improved Player honors.

The Stanford graduate received a flagrant foul against the Seattle Storm and was criticized for her dangerous plays against Gabby Williams and Skylar Diggins-Smith. However, none of this critique has dulled her motor or her willingness to play with extreme physicality. Yet, she is also adding to the arguments of her opponents by making non-basketball plays.

One such instance was in the Dallas Wings’ 93-79 defeat to the Los Angeles Sparks last night. Jostling for an entry pass against rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker, Carrington failed to get the ball and the Wings turned it over. However, instead of letting play go on, the 2024 MIP pulled Barker down by her shoulder as she herself fell to the ground. Carrington was assessed a loose ball foul for this, and with good reason.

Carrington had recently tweeted in defense of her physicality after the incidents against the Seattle Storm. However, it is impossible to play this incident off as purely an attempt at the ball. She got clearly knocked off the trajectory of the ball, and she made a non-basketball play in her frustration. Carrington’s play could absolutely have injured Ashlee Barker for needless reasons.

Jason Whitlock spoke out against Carrington’s on-court behavior after the video began doing the rounds on social media. He alleged that Carrington has now racked up enough of these incidents to deserve a ban for her wilful tendencies in trying to injure her opponents.

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.

DiJonai Carrington was put on blast by WNBA fans as well

Given that Carrington has now established a clear pattern of making non-basketball plays, WNBA fans are clamoring for her to face the consequences of her actions. After all, Carrington could have seriously injured quite a few players due to her reckless, or malicious plays, depending on how fans interpret her actions. It is clear that patience with her antics is now running thin in the WNBA community.

A few things need to change for these incidents to stop happening. DiJonai Carrington herself has to step up and take responsibility when she makes intentionally dirty plays as the one being discussed. If she doesn’t change her style of play, her opponents need to start holding her accountable. Players in other sports and leagues have been able to crack down on those who flout the regulations regularly.

The WNBA needs to take a leaf out of their playbooks to effect the desired change.

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