The WNBA world is reeling from a shocking legal threat issued by Connecticut Sun guard Dijonai Carrington against bestselling author Jeff Benedict, whose upcoming book on Caitlin Clark has ignited a firestorm of controversy.

Carrington’s attorneys delivered a cease-and-desist letter to Benedict and his publisher, Simon & Schuster, demanding the removal of “false and defamatory” content that allegedly portrays Carrington as a “dirty player” who deliberately targeted Clark during their on-court matchups.

The legal action comes amid escalating tensions between Clark’s rabid fanbase and WNBA veterans, with one particularly disturbing incident involving a self-described “Clark defender” crossing the line from online harassment to real-world intimidation.

The book at the center of the controversy, titled “Caitlin: The Shot That Changed Women’s Basketball,” is scheduled for release next month and has already topped Amazon’s pre-order charts.

According to sources familiar with the manuscript, Benedict devotes an entire chapter to what he calls the “targeting” of Clark by veteran players, with Carrington featured prominently as an alleged instigator.

The chapter reportedly includes detailed descriptions of a controversial play from a May game between the Fever and Sun, where Carrington’s hand made contact with Clark’s face during a drive to the basket.

While referees ruled it a common foul at the time, Benedict’s book allegedly characterizes it as a “premeditated attack” and claims Carrington later “bragged about putting the rookie in her place” to teammates—an assertion Carrington vehemently denies.

“These allegations are completely fabricated and damaging to my reputation and career,” Carrington said in a statement released through her attorney. “I have never targeted any player, including Caitlin Clark, and I certainly never ‘bragged’ about any such thing.

This book presents fiction as fact, and I will not allow my character to be assassinated for the sake of selling books.” Carrington’s legal team has demanded that all references to her be removed from the book before publication, threatening a multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit if Benedict and Simon & Schuster fail to comply.

The letter also demands a public apology and a substantial donation to the WNBA Players Association’s mental health initiative.

Benedict, a Pulitzer Prize finalist known for bestsellers like “Tiger Woods” and “The Dynasty,” has defended his reporting, insisting that all claims in the book are backed by multiple sources. “I stand by every word I’ve written,” Benedict told ESPN.

“This book is the product of over 100 interviews and months of research. It’s not a hit piece on anyone—it’s an honest examination of Clark’s impact on the game and the resistance she’s faced.”

Simon & Schuster has also stood firm, releasing a statement that they have “complete confidence in Mr. Benedict’s journalistic integrity” and plan to proceed with publication as scheduled. Industry insiders suggest the publisher may be willing to risk litigation given the book’s enormous commercial potential, with pre-orders already exceeding 500,000 copies.

The legal threat has divided the WNBA community, with players, fans, and analysts taking sides in what has become an increasingly toxic debate.

Veterans like Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird have publicly supported Carrington, with Bird tweeting: “The vilification of players who compete hard against Caitlin has gone too far. This isn’t journalism—it’s character assassination.”

Meanwhile, Clark’s supporters have rallied behind Benedict, arguing that his book merely exposes what they see as a pattern of targeting the rookie phenom. “Dijonai’s just mad because someone finally called her out,” tweeted one fan, while another wrote: “The truth hurts. We’ve all seen the footage.”

The controversy took an even darker turn when a self-described “Clark defender” was arrested outside the Sun’s practice facility in Uncasville, Connecticut, after allegedly threatening Carrington.

According to police reports, the 37-year-old male fan from Indiana was apprehended with a sign reading “LEAVE CAITLIN ALONE OR ELSE” and had posted Carrington’s home address online.

The incident, which Carrington’s attorney described as “the inevitable result of this irresponsible narrative,” has raised serious concerns about player safety and the increasingly hostile environment surrounding Clark and those perceived as her rivals. The WNBA has since increased security at all Sun games and is reviewing its fan conduct policies.

The legal battle and fan harassment have highlighted the unprecedented dynamics surrounding Clark’s arrival in the WNBA.

The rookie guard, who shattered NCAA scoring records at Iowa, has brought millions of new fans to the league, with Fever games averaging 1.8 million viewers—triple the league average without her. Her jersey sales account for 42% of all WNBA merchandise revenue, and her social media following dwarfs that of most WNBA teams combined.

This massive influx of fans, many new to women’s basketball, has created what ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson calls “a perfect storm of adoration and toxicity,” with some supporters taking their defense of Clark to extreme lengths.

For Carrington, the controversy has taken a significant toll. Sources close to the fourth-year guard say she’s received thousands of threatening messages on social media, with some fans even contacting her family members and former coaches.

“Dijonai’s just trying to play basketball,” said Sun teammate DeWanna Bonner. “She’s not this villain they’re making her out to be. It’s gotten completely out of hand.”

The Sun organization has filed formal complaints with the league office about the harassment, but the online attacks have only intensified since news of the legal threat broke, with #BoycottDijonai trending on Twitter for hours.

The WNBA finds itself in an unprecedented position, attempting to capitalize on Clark’s popularity while protecting its broader player community.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a statement calling for civility but stopped short of addressing the specific allegations in Benedict’s book or Carrington’s legal threat. “We welcome all fans to the WNBA, but we expect respectful behavior toward all of our players,” Engelbert said. “The passion is appreciated; the harassment is not.”

Critics argue this response is insufficient, with former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes telling ESPN: “The league needs to take a stronger stand. They’re so afraid of alienating Caitlin’s fans that they’re letting other players twist in the wind.”

As the legal drama unfolds, the broader implications for women’s basketball remain uncertain. The controversy has exposed deep fissures within the WNBA community, with some veterans feeling marginalized by the Clark phenomenon while others embrace her as the face of a new era.

The book, regardless of whether it’s modified before publication, is likely to further polarize these camps. “This isn’t just about one player or one book,” said sports sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards. “It’s about the growing pains of a league experiencing unprecedented attention and the cultural clash that comes with it.”

For now, all eyes are on Benedict, Simon & Schuster, and Carrington’s legal team as they navigate this high-stakes standoff. The outcome could set important precedents for sports journalism, player protections, and the boundaries of fan behavior in an increasingly fractious sports landscape.

One thing is certain: as the WNBA continues its meteoric rise in popularity, the tensions between its established culture and the new wave of fandom represented by Clark’s supporters will continue to define its evolution—for better or worse.