DiJonai Carrington has become one of the WNBA’s most talked-about players in 2026, known equally for her tenacious defense and her presence in the headlines off the court. As a 2024 Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team member now suiting up for the Chicago Sky, her career earnings and market value have grown steadily since her 2021 draft selection. Estimates place DiJonai Carrington’s net worth between $650,000 and $1 million, built through her WNBA salaries, Unrivaled League earnings, and endorsement deals with brands like Savage X Fenty and SKIMS.
This article breaks down everything fans are searching for, from her age, education, and physical stats to her current team, injury history, and recent controversies. It also covers her personal life, including her breakup with former partner NaLyssa Smith and the widely discussed Flagrant 2 incident involving Sophie Cunningham. Read on for a complete, up-to-date look at DiJonai Carrington’s salary, career earnings, and biography heading into the rest of the 2026 WNBA season.
DiJonai Carrington Age
DiJonai Victoria Carrington was born on January 8, 1998, in San Diego, California, which makes her 28 years old as of 2026. She grew up in San Diego and attended Horizon Christian High School before moving on to college basketball. Her age places her firmly in the prime years of a professional WNBA career, with several strong seasons already behind her.
Being 28 in the 2026 season puts Carrington in a similar bracket to many of the league’s established veterans who combine experience with athletic peak performance. She has spent her twenties building a reputation as one of the WNBA’s toughest perimeter defenders. Fans searching for her age are usually cross-referencing it with her career earnings and market value as she enters unrestricted free agency territory.
Her birth date also ties into her college timeline, since she began at Stanford in 2016 at 18 years old and was drafted into the WNBA in 2021 at age 23. That steady progression from high school standout to college transfer to a two-time award winner in the pros reflects a career built gradually rather than through a single breakout year.
DiJonai Carrington Education
Carrington began her collegiate career at Stanford University in 2016, where she played through the 2019-2020 season as part of the Cardinal program. She then transferred to Baylor University for her final year of eligibility in the 2020-2021 season, a move that significantly boosted her draft stock. At Baylor she averaged around 14 points and close to 5 rebounds per game, numbers that were noticeably higher than her Stanford output.
Her lone season with the Lady Bears earned her the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award along with Sixth Player of the Year honors, showing how quickly she adapted to a new system. It was also at Baylor where she became teammates, and eventually partner, with fellow future WNBA player NaLyssa Smith. That season ended with a deep NCAA Tournament run, giving Carrington a strong final showcase before entering the draft.
Before college, Carrington attended Horizon Christian High School in San Diego, where she was recognized as a McDonald’s All-American in 2016. That accolade placed her among the top high school recruits in the country and set the stage for her Stanford scholarship offer. Her education path across two major basketball programs gave her exposure to different coaching styles that shaped her all-around game.
DiJonai Carrington Career
DiJonai Carrington was selected 20th overall in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. She spent her first four professional seasons in Connecticut, gradually increasing her scoring and defensive impact with every year on the roster. Her standout 2024 campaign earned her both the WNBA Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-Defensive First Team.
After the 2024 season, Carrington’s career took a more turbulent turn through trades and free agency. She was dealt to the Dallas Wings in February 2025 as part of a larger four-team trade, then moved again to the Minnesota Lynx that August. In April 2026 she signed with the Chicago Sky, joining the team as an unrestricted free agent and bringing her defensive reputation to a new roster.
Across her time in Connecticut, Dallas, and Minnesota, Carrington built a career scoring average in the high single digits with strong rebounding and steal numbers for a guard. She also played in the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league in 2025, expanding her presence beyond the traditional WNBA season. Her career has been defined as much by her defensive intensity as by steady offensive growth year over year.
| Season | Team | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game |
| 2021-2024 | Connecticut Sun | 8.2 | 3.4 |
| 2025 | Dallas Wings / Minnesota Lynx | 9.8 | 4.0 |
| 2026 | Chicago Sky | 10.3 | 2.5 |
DiJonai Carrington Height
DiJonai Carrington stands at 5 feet 11 inches, or approximately 180 centimeters tall. That height makes her a versatile guard-forward who can defend multiple positions on the court. It also helps explain her ability to grab rebounds at a rate higher than many players her size typically manage.
Her frame allows her to switch onto bigger forwards without losing much defensively, which is part of why she earned All-Defensive First Team honors in 2024. Coaches across her stops in Connecticut, Dallas, Minnesota, and now Chicago have used her length to guard the opponent’s top perimeter threat. This physical profile is a key reason she has stayed valuable through multiple team changes.
At 5-foot-11, Carrington is taller than the average WNBA guard but not unusually so among modern combo guards who play both ends of the floor. Her height, paired with quick lateral movement, makes her a matchup problem for smaller point guards and bigger wings alike. It remains one of the most searched physical stats alongside her weight and playing weight class.
DiJonai Carrington Weight
Carrington is listed at 175 pounds, or roughly 79 kilograms, which fits her build as an athletic guard-forward. That weight allows her to play with the physicality needed to battle for rebounds while still maintaining the speed required to guard quicker perimeter players. Her listed measurements have stayed fairly consistent throughout her professional career.
This weight class puts her in a similar range to other two-way wing players in the WNBA who are relied on for both scoring and lockdown defense. It also supports her reputation for delivering hard, physical fouls, something that has occasionally drawn league scrutiny during contested plays. Her conditioning has generally been described as a strength by coaching staff across her various teams.
Weight and height together give a fuller picture of why Carrington has been effective defending multiple positions rather than being limited to a single role. Her physical profile has translated into strong steal and rebounding numbers relative to her position. Fans researching her stats often look at this alongside her height to understand her defensive versatility.
DiJonai Carrington Team
As of the 2026 WNBA season, DiJonai Carrington plays for the Chicago Sky as a guard-forward wearing number 7. She signed with the team in April 2026 after stints with the Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, and Minnesota Lynx. The Sky’s front office highlighted her speed, defense, and competitive edge as reasons for bringing her aboard.
Her arrival in Chicago followed a whirlwind 2025 season in which she was traded twice within a matter of months. Before landing with the Sky, she appeared in 31 games split between Dallas and Minnesota, averaging just under 10 points per game. The team move to Chicago also reunited her with former Connecticut Sun teammate Jacy Sheldon, who had been traded there earlier.
Being on the Chicago Sky places Carrington in the same Eastern Conference battles she once fought while with Connecticut, only now from the opposite side of several old rivalries. Her role with the Sky centers on perimeter defense and secondary scoring off a roster that leans on versatile wing players. Team fit has generally been viewed as a strong match for her skill set.
| Team | Years |
| Connecticut Sun | 2021-2024 |
| Dallas Wings | 2025 |
| Minnesota Lynx | 2025 |
| Chicago Sky | 2026-present |
DiJonai Carrington Status
DiJonai Carrington remains an active player in the WNBA as of August 2026, currently on the Chicago Sky roster. Her season has included both strong on-court moments and controversy, most recently an ejection following a flagrant foul on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. That incident has kept her name in the news cycle beyond typical box score coverage.
Off the court, her personal life has also been part of her current status, following a public breakup with longtime partner NaLyssa Smith earlier in 2026. She has been open about balancing basketball with a growing presence on social media and streaming platforms. This combination of on-court performance and off-court visibility has made her one of the more talked-about players in the league this season.
Her professional standing remains solid despite the recent ejection, as she continues to be a rotational contributor for the Sky. League discipline reviews after high-profile incidents can affect a player’s short-term availability, so her status is worth monitoring in the days following any such event. Overall, she is considered a established, if occasionally polarizing, veteran presence in the 2026 season.
DiJonai Carrington Wiki
DiJonai Victoria Carrington was born January 8, 1998, in San Diego, California, and currently plays as a guard-forward for the Chicago Sky. She attended Horizon Christian High School before playing college basketball at Stanford and then Baylor University. The Connecticut Sun drafted her 20th overall in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft.
Her professional accolades include the 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player award and a selection to the 2024 All-Defensive First Team. She has since played for the Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, and now the Chicago Sky after a series of trades in 2025 and free agency in 2026. Her father, Darren Carrington, is a former NFL safety who played for five different teams during his career.
Beyond basketball, her wiki-style profile often notes her participation in the 3×3 Unrivaled league and her growing social media presence. She has also been a frequent subject of sports media coverage due to on-court incidents and her personal relationship history. These combined athletic and off-court storylines make her one of the more searched WNBA players heading into the later part of the 2026 season.
DiJonai Carrington Injury Status
DiJonai Carrington dealt with an injury setback during the 2025 season that limited her participation, including ruling her out of the second season of the Unrivaled 3×3 league. During that recovery period, she spoke publicly about using the time away from competition to explore other ventures like streaming and content creation. She has since returned to full WNBA competition with the Chicago Sky in 2026.
Her injury history has been a smaller storyline compared to her on-court controversies, but it remains relevant to her overall availability and performance trajectory. Teams evaluating her value, including Chicago before signing her, have generally viewed her past injury issues as manageable rather than chronic. She has appeared in a solid number of games across the 2026 season so far.
As of the most recent update, Carrington is playing through the 2026 season without any long-term injury designation, though she was recently ejected rather than injured during the high-profile Sophie Cunningham incident. Her health status can shift quickly given the physical nature of her playing style, which includes frequent hard-nosed defensive plays. Fans tracking her fantasy or betting relevance should watch team injury reports for the latest updates.
DiJonai Carrington Instagram
DiJonai Carrington maintains an active presence on Instagram and other platforms under the handle associated with her name, where she shares both basketball content and lifestyle posts. Her account reflects her growing interest in beauty, streaming, and personal branding alongside her basketball career. She has used social media to address controversies directly, often posting reactions shortly after notable game incidents.
Her online presence grew notably during her 2025 injury recovery period, when she mentioned wanting to expand into streaming and video content. This shift has made her one of the more socially engaged players in the WNBA, with fans following both her athletic performance and personal updates. Her posts have occasionally sparked wider media coverage, particularly around her relationship updates and in-game controversies.
Social media has also played a role in her public disputes, including her comments following the Sophie Cunningham ejection and her public statements about her breakup with NaLyssa Smith. These posts tend to generate significant engagement and follow-up coverage from sports outlets. Her Instagram and Threads activity have become almost as closely watched as her on-court performance this season.
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DiJonai Carrington Husband
DiJonai Carrington does not have a husband, as she has not been publicly reported to be married. She was in a long-term relationship with fellow basketball player NaLyssa Smith, whom she met while both were teammates at Baylor University. The couple dated on and off from around 2020 through much of 2025 before ultimately separating.
Following their breakup, Carrington has been linked in media reports to Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, though neither player has publicly confirmed a relationship. Reports describe her as being in what NaLyssa Smith called a happy, healthy relationship during 2026 All-Star Weekend coverage. Carrington has not made any public marriage announcement at this time.
Given her relationship history has been closely tied to her basketball career, especially through Baylor and multiple WNBA rivalries, her personal life continues to draw significant media attention. Search interest in a possible husband likely stems from her high public profile rather than any confirmed marriage. As of now, she remains unmarried based on all available public information.
NaLyssa Smith Salary
NaLyssa Smith, DiJonai Carrington’s former longtime partner, currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces after being acquired from the Dallas Wings in 2025. She signed a one-year contract worth 450,000 dollars with the Aces for the 2026 season, a significant jump from her earlier rookie-scale earnings. That deal reflects her value as a contributor to the team’s championship-caliber roster.
Smith was originally drafted second overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft on a three-year rookie contract worth roughly 226,668 dollars total. Her salary progressed from about 72,000 dollars in her rookie year up to just under 92,000 dollars by her fourth season with Indiana. That steady rookie-scale growth set the stage for her much larger 2026 deal in Las Vegas.
Smith’s career earnings crossed the 300,000 dollar mark by October 2025 before her new Aces contract nearly doubled her single-season pay. Her rise in salary mirrors her on-court role expansion since joining a contending roster. As a restricted free agent turned re-signed player, her 2026 figure represents one of the bigger jumps of her career so far.
| Year | Team | Salary |
| 2022 | Indiana Fever | $72,141 |
| 2023 | Indiana Fever | $73,584 |
| 2024 | Indiana Fever | $80,943 |
| 2025 | Indiana Fever / Dallas Wings / Las Vegas Aces | $91,981 |
| 2026 | Las Vegas Aces | $450,000 |
Dijonai Carrington Flagrant 2
On August 8, 2026, DiJonai Carrington was ejected from a game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. The play occurred in the first quarter when Carrington’s arm struck Cunningham across the face and neck area as Cunningham drove in for a fast-break layup. The foul was originally called a Flagrant 1 on the floor but was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 after official review, resulting in Carrington’s automatic ejection.
The contact sent Cunningham to the ground hard, and she got up immediately to confront Carrington, leading to a tense exchange before teammates and officials separated the two players. Cunningham was awarded free throws as part of the flagrant foul penalty, while the Fever went on to win the game. After the incident, Cunningham said she found the foul unnecessary and noted she had no prior issue with Carrington.
Following her ejection, Carrington posted a message from the locker room suggesting the ejection decision was influenced by white privilege, a comment that drew significant backlash and calls for further league review. This is not the first time Carrington has been involved in a headline-grabbing physical incident, having previously poked Caitlin Clark in the eye during the 2024 playoffs. The Flagrant 2 and its aftermath quickly became one of the most discussed WNBA storylines of the week.
DiJonai Carrington Controversy
DiJonai Carrington has been at the center of several controversial moments throughout her WNBA career, often stemming from physical, hard-nosed plays. Her most notable prior incident came during the 2024 playoffs when she poked Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in the eye, an act some fans believed was intentional given prior comments she had made about the Fever fanbase. That moment made her a lightning rod for criticism from Fever supporters specifically.
Her August 2026 Flagrant 2 ejection against Sophie Cunningham added another chapter to this pattern, especially after she publicly attributed the officiating decision to racial bias on social media. That comment drew strong reactions from sports commentators, with some calling for a league suspension over the remarks. Her willingness to speak candidly on social media has repeatedly amplified controversies that might otherwise have stayed on the court.
Beyond in-game incidents, her public breakup and cheating allegations involving NaLyssa Smith also became a major off-court controversy in 2026, drawing attention from entertainment and sports outlets alike. The combination of physical playing style, outspoken social media presence, and high-profile relationship drama has made Carrington one of the more polarizing figures in the current WNBA landscape. Her career has consistently generated conversation both for her performance and her off-court statements.
Sophie and DiJonai Carrington
Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington became the center of a major WNBA storyline on August 8, 2026, after Carrington delivered a hard foul to Cunningham’s face during a Fever-Sky matchup. The two players had reportedly never spoken before the incident, according to Cunningham’s postgame comments, which made the intensity of their on-court clash somewhat unexpected. The foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2, leading to Carrington’s ejection from the game.
Cunningham, who has become one of the WNBA’s more talked-about players for her outspoken personality, appeared visibly frustrated and had to be held back by teammates following the contact. She later stated she saw no reason for the level of physicality Carrington used, adding that she had no prior conflict with her. This exchange added to Cunningham’s growing reputation as a player frequently at the center of physical, high-tension moments this season.
The aftermath extended beyond the court when Carrington posted about the officiating decision on social media, referencing race in a way that connected the incident to broader league discussions. Given Cunningham’s existing high media profile, the matchup and its fallout drew attention from major sports outlets almost immediately. The Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington storyline has since become one of the most discussed flashpoints of the 2026 WNBA season.
FAQ’s
What is DiJonai Carrington’s net worth?
DiJonai Carrington’s net worth is estimated to be between $650,000 and $1 million as of 2026, built primarily through her WNBA salaries, Unrivaled League earnings, and endorsement deals.
What is DiJonai Carrington’s salary in 2026?
She signed a one-year contract worth $650,000 with the Chicago Sky for the 2026 WNBA season, according to Spotrac.
How old is DiJonai Carrington?
She was born on January 8, 1998, making her 28 years old as of 2026.
What team does DiJonai Carrington play for?
She currently plays for the Chicago Sky after signing with the team in April 2026, following previous stints with the Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, and Minnesota Lynx.
Is DiJonai Carrington married?
No, DiJonai Carrington is not married. She was previously in a long-term relationship with WNBA player NaLyssa Smith before the two split in 2026.
Why was DiJonai Carrington ejected on August 8, 2026?
She received a Flagrant 2 foul for a hard hit to Sophie Cunningham’s face during a Fever-Sky game, which led to her automatic ejection after official review.
How tall is DiJonai Carrington?
She stands at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) and weighs approximately 175 pounds (79 kg).
Conclusion
DiJonai Carrington’s journey from a Stanford and Baylor standout to a two-time WNBA award winner reflects a career built on steady growth, physical defense, and resilience through multiple team changes. Her 2026 move to the Chicago Sky, paired with a $650,000 contract, marks the most lucrative chapter of her career so far, even as recent controversies like the Sophie Cunningham incident keep her in the spotlight.
Between her on-court accolades, endorsement deals, and growing social media presence, DiJonai Carrington’s net worth and profile are likely to keep climbing as the 2026 season progresses.
