WNBA cheating scandal explained: What happened, Who are the players named and everything else you need to know

The WNBA is facing an unexpected off-court controversy after Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington publicly accused her former partner, Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith, of cheating on her with multiple active WNBA players. The allegations, made on social media shortly after the league's successful All-Star weekend in Chicago, quickly went viral and sparked widespread discussion among fans.

Here's everything you need to know about the controversy.

What happened?

Just days after the WNBA wrapped up its All-Star festivities in Chicago, Carrington took to Threads to make explosive allegations against Smith, whom she dated for several years.


Carrington wrote: "Since mfs wanna be funny today ima be hilarious! Yes, Nalyssa cheated on me with Deja Kelly and Aaliyah Nye +++ many more."

The post immediately gained traction across social media, with fans debating the claims and their impact on the league.

Who are the players named?

Carrington specifically named two WNBA players in her allegations:

Deja Kelly, who went undrafted in the 2025 WNBA Draft after starring at North Carolina, where she earned First-Team All-ACC honors from 2022 to 2024.

Aaliyah Nye, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft out of Alabama. She currently plays for the Atlanta Dream.

As of the latest reports, neither Kelly nor Nye has publicly responded to the allegations.

DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith's relationship

Carrington and Smith first began dating while they were teammates at Baylor University in 2020.

Both eventually reached the WNBA and even reunited as teammates with the Dallas Wings during the 2025 season before Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Aces.

When the couple announced their split in late 2025, Carrington described the breakup as amicable.

"It was on good terms, we just grew in different directions."

The latest allegations represent a stark contrast to those earlier public comments.

How did NaLyssa Smith respond?

According to reports, Smith addressed the controversy during a livestream.

She questioned why Carrington chose to raise the allegations roughly a year after their breakup and reportedly suggested that Carrington was naming other players while allegedly being involved with Aces teammate Jackie Young.

Smith has not otherwise issued a formal public statement addressing the cheating allegations.

Carrington entered the WNBA after being selected 20th overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2021 WNBA Draft. She won the league's Most Improved Player award in 2024 after averaging 12.7 points per game before joining the Dallas Wings in 2025. She is currently with the Chicago Sky and has been recovering from a foot injury.

Smith was selected second overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She averaged a career-high 15.1 points per game in 2023 before seeing a reduced role following the Fever's selection of Caitlin Clark. After beginning the 2025 season with Dallas, Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Aces, where she helped the team capture another WNBA championship.

Following that title win, Carrington had publicly celebrated Smith on social media, writing: "My baby is a WNBA champion. I'm so so freaking proud of you!!!!! You were the turning point of the season... I love you beyond words!"

Reports also said Carrington was "sick to her stomach" when Smith was traded away from Dallas.

Upcoming matchups draw added attention

The controversy has added extra intrigue to upcoming WNBA games.

Chicago Sky are scheduled to host the Las Vegas Aces on August 1, potentially bringing Carrington and Smith back onto the same court amid heightened media attention.

The Sky are also set to face the Atlanta Dream on September 19, creating another closely watched matchup because of Carrington's allegations involving Nye.

As of publication, the WNBA has not issued any official statement regarding the controversy.