DiJonai Carrington’s Cheating Allegations Against NaLyssa Smith Rock the WNBA Amid Her Chicago Sky Return

DiJonai Carrington is dominating the conversation across the WNBA world this week, and it has nothing to do with her jump shot. The Chicago Sky guard set social media ablaze after publicly accusing her ex-girlfriend, Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith, of cheating on her with multiple players around the league, including two by name. The fallout has made Carrington the most talked-about figure in women’s basketball even as she works her way back into game shape following a long injury layoff.

Carrington and Smith’s relationship dates back to their college days at Baylor, where the two began dating in 2020 before both turned pro. They remained a couple through stints across multiple WNBA franchises and were even briefly teammates on the Dallas Wings during part of the 2025 season. When Carrington announced their split in November 2025, she described it as amicable, saying the two were “good” but had simply “grown in different directions.” The version of events she posted last month told a very different story.

The Threads Post That Shook the League

In a since-viral Threads post, Carrington wrote that Smith had cheated on her with Aces guard Deja Kelly and Atlanta Dream forward Aaliyah Nye, adding “+++ many more” for good measure. The claim named two active WNBA players directly and spread rapidly across social platforms, drawing reaction from fans, media figures, and players around the league. Neither Kelly nor Nye has publicly responded to being named in the post.

Smith addressed the allegations in a nearly nine-minute video on Twitch, notably declining to confirm or deny the specific claims. “Whether she cheated on me and I cheated on her, why are we bringing that to the internet a year later when nobody did anything to anybody?” Smith said, adding that she considers herself “the victim” in the situation. She indicated the drama resurfaced after the two crossed paths at a party during WNBA All-Star weekend. The timing has only intensified scrutiny, since Carrington has also been the subject of offseason rumors linking her to Smith’s current Aces teammate, Jackie Young — rumors neither player has confirmed.

Carrington’s Long Road Back to the Court

While her personal life has dominated headlines, Carrington’s return to basketball has been its own storyline for Chicago all season. The former WNBA Most Improved Player signed a one-year, $650,000 deal with the Sky in the offseason but didn’t debut until July 30 against the Connecticut Sun, missing the team’s first 27 games while rehabbing a severe left foot sprain suffered during the 2025 playoffs. She underwent surgery last October and a follow-up procedure in April to remove hardware before beginning a three-month rehab window that lined up her return with the stretch after the All-Star break.

Since coming back, Carrington has looked sharp for a Sky team that started the season 9-18 and is fighting for a late playoff push. Through her first several games off the bench, she’s averaging 11.7 points while bringing her trademark defensive intensity, including a 16-point outing on August 3 against Phoenix that featured a game-high 12 free-throw attempts. Head coach Tyler Marsh has already leaned on her as a defensive stopper, tasking her with matching up against opposing hot scorers.

What Happens Next

For now, the on-court production and off-court controversy are running on parallel tracks. Smith, Kelly, and Nye have all stayed silent beyond Smith’s initial response, and no independent confirmation of the cheating claims has surfaced. Carrington, meanwhile, continues working her way back to full form as Chicago tries to salvage its season, with every appearance now drawing extra eyes given the personal drama swirling around her. Bettors tracking the live NBA odds board for crossover storylines will notice the WNBA chatter bleeding into broader basketball conversation this week, a reminder of how quickly off-court headlines can shape a league’s spotlight. Whether the situation escalates further likely depends on if Smith, Kelly, or Nye choose to respond publicly, or if Carrington adds further detail beyond her original post.

What’s clear is that the Sky’s stretch run just became appointment viewing for reasons well beyond the standings. Carrington’s next few weeks on the floor will determine whether Chicago can salvage a rough season, while the drama involving Smith, Kelly, and Nye shows no signs of fading from the WNBA news cycle anytime soon.