We\u2019re almost a full year removed from Christine Brennan\u2019s controversial line of questioning towards then-Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington over an incident involving contact to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark\u2019s face during a first round playoff game.<\/p>\n
As has been well-documented, Brennan inquired about the incident in a manner that some WNBA players and media peers<\/a> took exception to. \u201cDiJoinai, did you, when you went and kind of swatted at Caitlin, did you intend to hit her in the eye? And if so, could you just- or if not, either way, could you talk about what happened on that play?\u201d Brennan asked.<\/p>\n I asked DiJonai Carrington about that moment early in Sunday\u2019s Indiana-Connecticut game when she caught Caitlin Clark in the eye. Here\u2019s her answer: pic.twitter.com\/DnQVYi0r6J<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) September 24, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n In the ensuing days, the WNBPA called for Brennan\u2019s press credentials to be revoked<\/a>, releasing a lengthy statement on social media attacking the veteran journalist. \u201cInstead of demonstrating the cornerstones of journalism ethics like integrity, objectivity, and a fundamental commitment to truth, you have chosen to be indecent and downright insincere. You have abused your privileges and do not deserve the credentials issued to you,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n The merits of Brennan\u2019s exact wording of the question can be debated, but the ultimate end of the question cannot. The\u00a0USA Today columnist was asking a question of great public interest. The incident between Carrington and Clark had taken over WNBA discourse, and fans wanted to hear straight from the source.<\/p>\n Was Brennan\u2019s wording sloppy? Yes. Saying Carrington \u201ckind of swatted at Caitlin\u201d rather than saying something along the lines of \u201ccontested Caitlin\u2019s shot\u201d is leading, and implies there was malicious intent in her actions. But in no way was Brennan\u2019s question out of bounds. It was simply asking a player to give her perspective about a play that had garnered a lot of attention.<\/p>\n As such, Brennan has fiercely defended herself, saying she\u2019d ask the question \u201c100 times out of 100<\/a>.\u201d In the weeks following the incident, Brennan took aim at the WNBA<\/a> for not preparing its players to face tough questions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe national scrutiny that the WNBA is getting is something that maybe a lot of the players were not prepared for,\u201d Brennan said at the The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism Symposium in November. \u201cI do wonder if the WNBA was preparing its athletes properly for questions that would come.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, it seems like Brennan had good reason to believe that is the case.<\/p>\n