Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington and Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith have finally told their respective sides of an infamous foul involving the WNBA couple last season.
Last year, when the Fever were playing the Sun, Carrington grabbed a rebound and was fouled by Smith, who then helped Carrington up off the floor in a manner that social media thought was more caressing than would be reserved for the typical opponent.
On an Instagram Live together over the weekend, Carrington and Smith, who were teammates at Baylor, talked about what happened.
Carrington said she was making a “basketball play” by grabbing the loose ball and hoping to pick up a foul on Smith.
“She ran straight through me. Dawg, she held on for like at least 10 seconds, it felt like,” Carrington said.
Smith, laughing, said, “It’s because you were in a dream.”
“She swears she didn’t do it on purpose. She was like, ‘I was just making sure you didn’t fall.’ Bro, the way that she wrapped them arms around, she damn near interlocked at the front,” Carrington continued.
Carrington told Smith that “you dragged it” and asked her to “finally admit” it.
“How did I drag you? I hooked you up,” Smith said.
Carrington asked Smith if she helps everyone up like that, and Smith said, “We’re not talking about everyone. We’re talking about you … I just wanted to help her up. She goes and sticks her little booty out like that. Now we vibing.”
Both told the other that they knew “exactly” what they were doing.
Carrington has been involved in a couple of controversies this season with Smith’s teammate, Caitlin Clark.
Last month, Carrington mocked Clark for alleged flopping and ripped Clark for not speaking up about getting “weaponized” in social justice issues after Clark said she just wanted to focus on basketball.
“Dawg. How one can not be bothered by their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia & the intersectionalities of them all is nuts,” Carrington wrote on X.
“We all see the s–t. We all have a platform. We all have a voice & they all hold weight. Silence is a luxury.”