{"id":40061,"date":"2025-07-05T06:16:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T06:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/40061\/"},"modified":"2025-07-05T06:16:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T06:16:09","slug":"who-is-nalyssa-smiths-girlfriend-everything-you-need-to-know-about-dijonai-carrington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/40061\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is NaLyssa Smith’s Girlfriend? Everything You Need to Know About DiJonai Carrington"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re asked about a WNBA power couple, names like Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird might come to mind. But when it comes to active players who are a couple, there are only a few, and one of the most interesting among them is NaLyssa Smith and her girlfriend.<\/p>\n

No doubt, they\u2019re a complete family with their two dogs, but do you know where it all started? Well, it all dates back to their collegiate days when they were teammates under head coach Kim Mulkey. And yes, you guessed it right \u2013 at the NCAA level, teammates aren\u2019t allowed to date each other. But as they say, love finds its way, and it did for both Carrington and Smith too!<\/p>\n

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Who Is NaLyssa Smith\u2019s Girlfriend, DiJonai Carrington?<\/p>\n

Hailing from San Diego, California, DiJonai Carrington first fell in love with basketball while attending Horizon Christian Academy. There, she scored over 2,000 career points and averaged 18.8 points per game. She was also named a McDonald\u2019s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic All-American, honors that paved the way for her commitment to Stanford. Carrington stayed at Stanford for four years, making her mark with elite defense and leadership. But destiny had other plans\u2014she transferred to Baylor for her final season in 2020\u201321, where she earned Big 12 Newcomer and Sixth Player of the Year honors.<\/p>\n

But basketball wasn\u2019t the only win that year. She also met her future life partner, NaLyssa Smith. It\u2019s true that players aren\u2019t allowed to date teammates during college basketball seasons, and their coach Kim Mulkey was well aware of it. As Carrington shared with Angel Reese on the Unapologetically Angel show, \u201cThere was one time though, she called me in her office\u2026 so I go in there before practice.\u201d <\/p>\n

That was after Carrington had defended Smith during a team meeting the previous day. \u201cShe\u2019s like, \u2018You know what, Carrington? Do you and NaLyssa call yourselves a thing? Y\u2019all call yourselves an item?\u2019 And I\u2019m like, \u2018Huh? What are you talking about?\u2026 No?\u2019\u201d Carrington added, laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s like, \u2018Yesterday, you sure were really on her side\u2026 I think you\u2019re a pretty smart young lady, but yesterday, I don\u2019t know,\u2019\u201d Carrington continued. So, while their relationship was kept low-key, the connection was undeniable. That\u2019s why even when Angel Reese entered, she got a book from Mulkey that said: No dating allowed between teammates. But who can stop love?<\/p>\n

What Is DiJonai Carrington\u2019s Height and Age?<\/p>\n

Though they both attended Baylor University at the same time, Carrington and Smith aren\u2019t the same age. Carrington, born on January 8, 1998, is 27 years old, while Smith is 24. They spent only one year at Baylor together, after Carrington transferred from Stanford, where she earned degrees in Psychology and African and American Studies.<\/p>\n

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She wasn\u2019t just a basketball phenom; Carrington was academically strong, too. She earned a spot on the Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and was named Pac-12 All-American Honorable Mention in 2018 and 2019. On the court, she helped Stanford win two Pac-12 Tournament championships and earned All-Pac-12 honors from both coaches and media in 2019.<\/p>\n

How Did NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington Meet?<\/p>\n

From the moment they started playing together at Baylor, fans and media noticed their chemistry both on and off the court. But it wasn\u2019t until the Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever game in July 2024 that things became official. During the game, Smith fouled Carrington but helped her up in a way many saw as affectionate.<\/p>\n

The pair later cleared the air with a playful exchange during a joint Instagram Live, which introduced their relationship to many WNBA fans. And ever since, they\u2019ve been regarded as a power couple. Though they were drafted by different teams \u2013 Smith went to the Fever and Carrington to the Sun \u2013 they reunited briefly in the Dallas Wings via a trade.<\/p>\n

Sadly, their time as teammates was short-lived, as Smith was soon traded again, this time to the Las Vegas Aces. Despite the surprise trade, Smith didn\u2019t miss a beat in showing love to her partner. She tweeted a heartfelt goodbye: \u201cI love you wifeyyyy take care of tha kidsss,\u201d referencing their beloved poodles. So, could wedding bells be next?<\/p>\n

Who Are DiJonai Carrington\u2019s Parents?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that Carrington sees a future with Smith. She\u2019s said so herself. \u201cI\u2019m not even like into girls,\u201d she told Angel Reese. \u201cLike I don\u2019t be like \u2018I\u2019m gay, I\u2019m gay\u2019 like I\u2019m not gay, I just like Lyss.\u201d<\/p>\n

And well, Smith fits right into Carrington\u2019s strong, athletic family. Her father, Darren Carrington Sr., played eight seasons in the NFL and appeared in two Super Bowls. After retiring, he became a family and marriage pastor in San Diego, while coaching his kids at Horizon Christian Academy.<\/p>\n

Her mother, Vickie, was a track star at Northern Arizona University and later earned a master\u2019s degree from California Baptist University. She\u2019s held roles as an athletic counselor, associate athletic director, and basketball coach, and now coaches AAU for Cal Sparks U17. Carrington\u2019s brother, Darren Jr., was a standout wide receiver at Oregon and Utah, and her sister Diarra played college basketball at New Orleans and now coaches professionally.<\/p>\n

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What Is DiJonai Carrington\u2019s Net Worth in 2025?<\/p>\n

DiJonai Carrington is a lockdown defender in the WNBA, but she\u2019s also building a serious financial resume. As of 2025, her estimated net worth is around $650,000, thanks to her WNBA salary, off-season play in leagues like Unrivaled, and a growing list of brand endorsements.<\/p>\n

She signed a 1-year, $200,000 contract with the Dallas Wings, and her total career earnings through 2024 are estimated at around $271,000. Her stint in the Unrivaled 3v3 league also brought in about $150,000. And when it comes to endorsements, Carrington is thriving. She\u2019s partnered with Savage x Fenty, SKIMS, and Reebok, which greatly boosts her income and visibility.<\/p>\n

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DiJonai Carrington on Instagram<\/p>\n

Carrington is active on Instagram under the handle @dijonai, where her bio reads: \u201cJesus 1st | SD \u2600\ufe0f | WNBA | @stanford \u201920 | @baylorwbb \u201921.\u201d She has over 458K followers<\/a>, and her presence on social media has made her a notable brand in women\u2019s basketball.<\/p>\n

Still, for all the fame and recognition, her relationship with Smith remains one of the truest reflections of who she is. Whether it\u2019s standing up for Smith during a slump, or Smith supporting Carrington during the Caitlin Clark controversy<\/a>, their loyalty to one another shines through.<\/p>\n