The WNBA’s All-Star weekend was supposed to be about basketball’s biggest stars celebrating the league’s brightest talents. Instead, the spotlight shifted dramatically off the court after Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington made explosive allegations against her former partner, Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith, triggering one of the biggest off-court controversies of the 2026 season.
Carrington took to Threads with a post that quickly spread across social media, accusing Smith of cheating on her with multiple WNBA players during their relationship. In the post, Carrington specifically named Las Vegas Aces rookie Deja Kelly and Atlanta Dream guard Aaliyah Nye before adding that there were “many more.” As of now, neither Smith, Kelly, nor Nye has publicly responded to the allegations, and Carrington’s claims remain unverified.
The accusations surprised many around the league because Carrington and Smith had previously presented a very different story about the end of their relationship. When they announced their breakup in 2025, both indicated they had simply grown apart, leaving fans with the impression that the split had been respectful and amicable.
That narrative changed almost overnight after Carrington’s social media post. Within hours, screenshots circulated across X, Instagram, Reddit, and Threads, making the controversy one of the most discussed topics coming out of All-Star weekend. The off-court drama quickly overshadowed many of the basketball headlines generated during the event.
Carrington and Smith’s relationship stretches back several years. The pair first met while playing together at Baylor University before both eventually reaching the WNBA. Their basketball careers briefly reunited when they became teammates with the Dallas Wings in 2025, but that partnership ended after Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Aces just months later.
At the time of that trade, Smith publicly admitted she was devastated by the move because it separated her from Carrington. She described herself as feeling “sick to my stomach,” although she also acknowledged that Las Vegas was a destination she had hoped to play for if a trade became necessary.
Now, nearly a year later, Carrington’s latest comments have painted a dramatically different picture of what happened behind the scenes during their relationship. According to her post, infidelity not simply growing apart was the real reason their romance ended. However, no independent evidence has been made public to support the allegations, and those accused have not issued statements addressing the claims.
The timing has only intensified interest. Carrington’s comments surfaced immediately after the WNBA All-Star festivities in Chicago, when attention across the league was already at its highest. Instead of discussing All-Star performances, many fans found themselves debating the personal lives of several players.
The controversy also adds another layer of intrigue to the remaining regular season schedule. The Chicago Sky are scheduled to host the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 1, setting up the first on-court meeting between Carrington and Smith since the allegations became public. Later in the season, Carrington is also expected to face Atlanta’s Aaliyah Nye, another player she mentioned in her post.
The story has generated intense discussion across social media, with many fans urging caution because only one side of the dispute has been made public. Others have expressed disappointment that a major WNBA storyline has shifted away from basketball and toward personal relationships. Reddit discussions reflected both curiosity and fatigue, with some fans saying they wished the focus would return to the games themselves.
On the court, both players remain important contributors to their respective teams. Carrington continues to play a key role for the rebuilding Chicago Sky, while Smith is looking to establish herself with the Las Vegas Aces after arriving in a high-profile trade. Their next matchup now carries far more attention than anyone could have predicted just a few days ago.
Whether additional details emerge remains uncertain. For now, the allegations remain unconfirmed, and none of the individuals named by Carrington have publicly responded. Until that happens, the story is likely to remain one of the WNBA’s most talked-about off-court developments, with fans closely watching to see whether anyone involved chooses to address the claims publicly.
