Brief Introduction of Dijonai Carrington
DiJonai Carrington is a dynamic American professional basketball player currently making her mark in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a guard for the Minnesota Lynx. Known for her tenacious defense, athletic versatility, and fierce competitive spirit, Carrington has rapidly ascended in the league since being drafted in 2021. Her career is highlighted by significant collegiate achievements and her recognition as the 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player and a selection to the 2024 All-Defensive First Team. Beyond the court, Dijonai Carrington is recognized for her engagement in brand partnerships and her outspoken advocacy on social issues, solidifying her reputation as a prominent figure in women’s sports.
Dijonai Carrington Overview
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | DiJonai Victoria Carrington |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1998 |
| Age (as of September 2025) | 27 years old |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters) |
| Weight | 175 lbs (79 kg) |
| Profession | Professional Basketball Player |
| Current Team (WNBA) | Minnesota Lynx (as of August 2025) |
| Position | Guard-Forward |
| Draft | 2021 WNBA Draft, 2nd Round, 20th Overall (Connecticut Sun) |
| College | Stanford University, Baylor University |
| Parents | Darren Russell Carrington (father), Vickie Carrington (mother) |
| Siblings | Darren Carrington II (brother), Diarra Carrington (sister) |
| Relationship Status | In a relationship with Nalyssa Smith |
| Net Worth (as of August 2025) | Estimated $650,000 |
| WNBA Achievements | WNBA Most Improved Player (2024), WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2024) |
Early Life and Education of Dijonai Carrington
DiJonai Victoria Carrington was born on January 8, 1998, in San Diego, California, into a family with a strong athletic lineage. Her father, Darren Russell Carrington, was a former NFL player who spent eight years as a safety for teams including the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions. Her mother, Vickie Carrington, was a track and field athlete at Northern Arizona University and later served as an Athletic Director and coach at Horizon Christian Academy and Christian Unified Schools. Her athletic background extends to her siblings; her brother, Darren Carrington II, played wide receiver for Oregon and Utah, and her sister, Diarra Carrington, played point guard at Daytona University and the University of New Orleans.
Carrington attended Horizon Christian Academy in San Diego, California, where she excelled in basketball, scoring over 2,000 career points. During her senior season, she averaged an impressive 18.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Her outstanding high school performance earned her national recognition, including being named a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic All-American in 2016.
Following her decorated high school career, DiJonai Carrington committed to Stanford University, where she pursued undergraduate degrees in psychology and African and African American studies. At Stanford, she played collegiate basketball for four years (2016-2020), helping the Cardinal secure two Pac-12 tournament championships in 2017 and 2019. She was also named to the All-Pac-12 Team by both coaches and media in 2019 and received academic honors, including the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2020. After her time at Stanford, Carrington transferred to Baylor University for her graduate transfer year (2020-2021). Despite battling injuries, she made a significant impact, averaging 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and earning the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Sixth Person of the Year awards.
DiJonai Carrington’s Career
College Career
DiJonai Carrington’s collegiate career was marked by consistent growth and significant contributions to two prominent programs. At Stanford University (2016-2020), she amassed 912 points, 553 rebounds, 133 assists, and 106 steals over four years. She was instrumental in the Cardinal winning Pac-12 Tournament Championships in 2017 and 2019, and she was recognized with an All-Pac-12 selection in 2019. During her junior season in 2018-19, she started all 36 games, averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, finishing among the top players in the Pac-12 in multiple categories. After her tenure at Stanford, she transferred to Baylor University for the 2020-2021 season as a graduate student. In her single season with the Lady Bears, Carrington averaged 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds, earning the titles of Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Sixth Person of the Year.
Professional Career: WNBA Journey
DiJonai Carrington’s professional career began when she was selected as the 20th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. She successfully earned a spot on the Sun’s roster and contributed as a versatile guard-forward. In her rookie season, she played in 24 games, demonstrating her potential with 68 points and 47 rebounds.
Her role and impact steadily grew with the Sun. In 2022, she appeared in 36 regular-season games, averaging 6.8 points and 3.1 rebounds, and recorded a career-high 18 points against New York. The 2023 season saw her average career-best numbers with 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Her breakout year came in 2024, where she elevated every aspect of her game, averaging career highs of 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. She started all 39 games she played that season, leading Connecticut to a 28-12 record, the most wins in franchise history. Her exceptional performance earned her the prestigious WNBA Most Improved Player award in September 2024, receiving 28 of 67 votes from a national media panel. She was also named to the 2024 WNBA All-Defensive First Team, highlighting her prowess on both ends of the court.
In early 2025, Carrington was traded to the Dallas Wings as part of a four-team trade. She signed a one-year, $200,000 contract with the Wings. However, her tenure with the Wings was brief. On August 3, 2025, DiJonai Carrington was traded to the Minnesota Lynx for Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson, and Minnesota’s 2027 second-round draft pick. This move placed her on a WNBA-leading team, where she quickly began to make an impact, with her presence reportedly helping to unleash a Lynx veteran’s offense.
Other Ventures
Beyond the WNBA, DiJonai Carrington also participated in the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, a women’s 3×3 professional league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Players in this league reportedly earned a minimum salary of $150,000 plus player equity, further diversifying her income streams. In 2025, she also became the second Reebok-endorsed WNBA player after Angel Reese, signing a multi-year deal and fronting their sneaker campaign to merge sport, style, and culture. She also holds ambassador roles with Rihanna’s Fenty brand and Kim Kardashian‘s SKIMS, the latter becoming an official partner of the WNBA in 2024.
DiJonai Carrington Personal Life & Family
DiJonai Carrington’s personal life is characterized by strong family ties and a public relationship with a fellow WNBA player. She is the daughter of Darren Russell Carrington, a former NFL player, and Vickie Carrington, a former collegiate track athlete and athletic director. Her family, including her brother Darren Carrington II (a former college wide receiver) and sister Diarra Carrington (a former college point guard), has a deep-rooted history in sports, which has profoundly influenced her journey.
DiJonai Carrington is openly in a relationship with NaLyssa Smith, who plays for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. Their relationship began during their time together at Baylor University, where Carrington transferred for her redshirt senior year. They have been quite open about their relationship within the league, maintaining professional boundaries despite playing for different teams for a period. As of the 2025 WNBA season, the couple is playing for different teams, though there was earlier speculation of them playing on the same team.
Carrington balances her professional career with her personal life, and her ability to maintain strong family connections while pursuing her aspirations serves as an inspiration to many. She also holds degrees in psychology and African and African American studies from Stanford University, demonstrating her commitment to academic pursuits alongside her athletic career.
Awards and Achievements of Dijonai Carrington
DiJonai Carrington has accumulated an impressive list of accolades throughout her high school, college, and professional basketball careers:
High School Achievements
- McDonald’s All-American (2016)
- Jordan Brand Classic All-American (2016)
- Scored over 2,000 career points at Horizon Christian Academy
College Achievements
- Two-time Pac-12 Tournament Champion with Stanford (2017, 2019)
- All-Pac-12 First Team (2019)
- Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention (2018, 2019)
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2020)
- Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (2021)
- Big 12 Sixth Person of the Year (2021)
WNBA Achievements
- WNBA Most Improved Player (2024)
- WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2024)
- Scored her 1000th WNBA career point in the 2024 season
DiJonai Carrington Net Worth and Income
As of August 2025, DiJonai Carrington’s net worth is estimated to be around $650,000. Her financial profile is a result of her WNBA salaries, participation in offseason leagues, and a growing portfolio of endorsement deals.
Her WNBA earnings have steadily increased throughout her career. She signed a three-year contract worth $193,370 with the Connecticut Sun after being drafted in 2021, with an average annual salary of $64,457. In 2024, the Sun exercised an option for a fourth year, increasing her base salary to $78,469. Before the 2025 season, she signed a one-year, $200,000 contract with the Dallas Wings. She also significantly boosted her income by participating in the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, the women’s 3×3 professional league, where players reportedly earned a minimum of $150,000 plus player equity.
Beyond her playing contracts, Carrington has secured several lucrative endorsement deals. In 2025, she signed a multi-year deal with Reebok Basketball, becoming one of the faces of their women’s relaunch and fronting a sneaker campaign. She also serves as an ambassador for Rihanna’s lingerie brand, Savage x Fenty, and Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand, SKIMS, especially after SKIMS became an official partner of the WNBA in 2024.
Legacy and Influence
DiJonai Carrington’s impact extends beyond her impressive statistics and defensive prowess on the court. She has emerged as a prominent voice in the WNBA, known for her unapologetic intensity and willingness to address important social issues. Carrington has asserted that WNBA players “do not just ‘shut up and dribble’,” using her platform to speak on matters important to her and other athletes. She has also been a vocal advocate against perceived racial bias and microaggressions, particularly regarding the treatment of Black women athletes in the league, sparking important conversations.
Her public relationship with NaLyssa Smith of the Indiana Fever also contributes to her influence, openly representing LGBTQ+ athletes in professional sports. Through her brand partnerships with Reebok, Fenty, and SKIMS, Carrington merges sports, style, and culture, using her platform to connect with wider audiences and inspire aspiring athletes. As she continues to thrive and expand her brand off the court, Dijonai Carrington is building a legacy as a fierce competitor, a strong advocate, and a rising icon in women’s basketball.
Interesting Facts about Dijonai Carrington
- DiJonai Carrington’s wingspan measures 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm), which significantly aids her exceptional perimeter defense.
- She is known for her tenacious and aggressive playing style, often described as “lionhearted” and “relentless.”
- Carrington earned two undergraduate degrees from Stanford University: one in psychology and another in African and African American studies.
- In addition to basketball, she also played volleyball for two seasons during her high school career.
- Her mother, Vickie Carrington, served as an Athletic Director and coach at her high school, Horizon Christian Academy, from 2001 to 2017.
- She became the second WNBA player, following Angel Reese, to sign a multi-year endorsement deal with Reebok in 2025.
Controversies
DiJonai Carrington has faced several controversies throughout her WNBA career, primarily related to her aggressive defensive style and on-court incidents. She has often been labeled a “dirty player” by fans, a narrative she has publicly pushed back against, stating that she “just play hard asf & never give up on a play.” She maintains that she is always trying to make a play on the ball, with her flagrant fouls often being rescinded upon review.
Notable incidents include a flagrant-1 foul in June 2025 for making contact with Seattle’s Skylar Diggins‘ head during a fast break. Another widely discussed incident occurred in September 2024 during a playoff game, where she was accused of intentionally poking Caitlin Clark in the eye, resulting in a black eye for Clark. Although Carrington denied intentionality and laughed off the incident with a teammate, she later appeared to make light of it in an Instagram Live video with her girlfriend, NaLyssa Smith, which drew further criticism.
In May 2025, Carrington also garnered attention when a WNBA referee called a security guard to stand between them during a heated discussion following a game. Carrington labeled this incident a “microaggression,” hinting at deeper racial biases in how Black women athletes are treated. Additionally, she faced backlash in June 2025 for pulling Los Angeles Sparks guard Sarah Ashlee Barker by her hair during a game, an action many fans considered an inexcusable foul. These incidents have led to calls for the league to take stronger disciplinary action, with some fans questioning if her actions cross the line from gritty to reckless.
Social Media Presence
DiJonai Carrington maintains an active and influential presence across social media platforms. As of January 2025, she has garnered 395,000 followers on Instagram (dijonai__) and 69,500 followers on Twitter (now X). While her Instagram following was listed at over 333,300 in a more recent August 2025 report, her engagement rate remains high, indicating a strong connection with her audience. She uses these platforms not only to share updates on her basketball career and personal life but also to voice her opinions on social issues, further solidifying her influence.
Final Words about Dijonai Carrington
DiJonai Carrington stands as a compelling figure in the WNBA, embodying athleticism, resilience, and outspoken advocacy. As of late 2025, she is thriving with the Minnesota Lynx, having joined the team in August after a brief stint with the Dallas Wings. Her journey through college basketball at Stanford and Baylor, followed by her impactful WNBA career, showcases a consistent upward trajectory. The 2024 season marked a significant milestone, earning her the WNBA Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-Defensive First Team, cementing her status as a league force.
Beyond the court, Dijonai Carrington has cultivated a significant brand, securing major endorsements with Reebok, Fenty, and SKIMS, and expanding her influence into the fashion and branding worlds. While her aggressive playing style has occasionally led to controversies, she consistently defends her approach as playing with maximum effort and commitment to the ball. She remains a vocal advocate for athletes’ rights to speak on social issues, challenging narratives and engaging in important dialogues. Looking ahead, DiJonai Carrington’s future plans likely involve continuing her high-level play with the Lynx, further developing her brand, and utilizing her platform to inspire and enact positive change within and beyond the realm of professional sports. Her story, marked by dedication, talent, and a fearless spirit, is undoubtedly still being written.
