Who is DiJonai Carrington? Chicago Sky star accuses ex NaLyssa Smith of cheating with Deja Kelly, Aaliyah Nye and multiple WNBA players

DiJonai Carrington is once again at the centre of WNBA conversation, but this time it has nothing to do with basketball. The Chicago Sky guard went viral after posting explosive allegations on Threads against her former partner and ex teammate NaLyssa Smith. Carrington claimed Smith cheated on her with multiple WNBA players, specifically naming Deja Kelly and Aaliyah Nye.


The post spread rapidly across social media, with fans debating everything from athlete privacy to relationships within the league. As the discussion grows, many are also asking one question: who exactly is DiJonai Carrington?

DiJonai Carrington is an American professional basketball player who currently plays as a guard for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. Born on January 8, 1998, in San Diego, California, she was one of the country's top high school prospects before joining Baylor University. After suffering an ACL injury during college, Carrington transferred to Stanford University for her final season, where she helped the Cardinal reach the NCAA Final Four and rebuilt her reputation as one of the nation's best defensive guards.

Carrington was selected by the Connecticut Sun in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft and has since represented the Sun, Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky. She is widely known for her aggressive defence, versatility and high energy on the court, earning recognition as one of the league's toughest competitors. Off the court, Carrington has a strong social media presence and is known for speaking openly about issues affecting women's basketball. Her relationship with fellow WNBA player NaLyssa Smith also made them one of the league's most talked about couples, making the recent allegations all the more shocking for fans.


Carrington and NaLyssa Smith first met while playing together at Baylor. Their friendship eventually turned into a relationship, and the pair became one of the WNBA's most well known couples. Fans often celebrated them for being open about their relationship and supporting each other's careers.

The couple even reunited as teammates after both joined the Dallas Wings. However, that chapter was short lived after Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Aces. Although they continued supporting each other publicly for some time, reports of an on and off relationship surfaced before they eventually split. Earlier this year, Carrington confirmed that the relationship was over.

The controversy erupted on July 26 after DiJonai Carrington posted a series of allegations against her former partner, NaLyssa Smith, on Threads. In the now viral post, the Chicago Sky guard accused Smith of cheating on her with multiple WNBA players during their relationship. Carrington did not stop at making a general claim. She specifically named Deja Kelly and Aaliyah Nye, before adding that there were "many more" women involved. The post, which featured an old photo of Carrington and Smith from their Dallas Wings days, immediately caught the attention of basketball fans and social media users.


Carrington wrote, "Since mfs wanna be funny today ima be hilarious! yes, nalyssa cheated on me with Deja Kelly and Aaliyah Nye +++ many more." While she did not explain exactly what happened, she suggested her decision to go public was triggered by events or comments made during the WNBA All Star weekend. Her remarks implied she was responding after others had tried to mock or provoke her.

Within hours, screenshots of the post were circulating widely across X, Reddit and sports pages, turning the personal dispute into one of the biggest WNBA talking points of the weekend.

The story quickly exploded on X, where screenshots of Carrington's Threads post circulated within hours. Some users were stunned by the public nature of the allegations, while others turned the situation into memes and jokes. One viral reaction read, "This a basketball league or Love Island??" Another user joked, "The WNBA is officially the messiest league." Others took a more sympathetic approach, with one fan writing, "Heartbreak makes people react differently. Hope everyone involved finds peace." Several fans also urged people not to jump to conclusions until everyone involved has had a chance to respond.


For now, the controversy remains one sided. Until Smith, Kelly or Nye respond, Carrington's post stands as her personal account of what happened. Regardless of how the situation develops, it has become one of the most talked about WNBA stories of the weekend, putting DiJonai Carrington back in the spotlight for reasons far beyond basketball.