Dijonai Carrington and Nalyssa Smith Drama: How the Allegations Surfaced and Spread Across the Wnba
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Carrington and Smith first crossed paths on the court at Baylor University. Carrington joined the Lady Bears for the 2020, 2021 season as a graduate transfer from Stanford, while Smith was already an established star and eventual Wade Trophy winner. Their chemistry quickly transferred beyond basketball, developing into a romantic relationship that they made public shortly after Carrington entered the professional ranks.
The WNBA Draft sent them to different markets, Carrington was selected by the Connecticut Sun in 2021, while Smith went second overall to the Indiana Fever in 2022. Rather than dampening their connection, the geographical split created must-watch television. Broadcasts regularly framed Sun vs. Fever games around their head-to-head match-ups, cutting to the pair guarding each other in the paint before sharing embraces at the final buzzer.
Fans embraced their romance as an authentic celebration of queer visibility in elite athletics. For nearly three years, both players shared routine vlogs, shared vacations, and court-side outfits across TikTok and Instagram. They represented a modern breed of WNBA athlete: vocal, stylish, and unapologetically visible in their private lives.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
