Mariah Rose, on the “Hoops for Hotties” podcast on Wednesday, called the love triangle involving DiJonai Carrington, Jackie Young and NaLyssa Smith “f**king messy.” Roughly a week ago, fans noticed that Carrington and Young featured the same Miami skyline on social media, leading to speculations of a relationship.
Rose hopped on her podcast to give content to the situation:
“DiJonai was dating NaLyssa Smith. They had been together since they were teammates at Baylor. DiJonai went on Angel Reese’s podcast and said she was only gay for Nalyssa. Lyss don’t have to worry about the girls cause (Carrington) doesn’t like girls; she only liked Lyss.
“They both were on the same team (Wings). They get traded to separate teams. NaLyssa ends up being teammates and winning a championship with Jackie Young, who messed with her ex and was told so by DM on Twitter.
“Now, they break up, and now DiJonai is messing with Jackie, and NaLyssa is messing with Jackie’s ex, Deja Kelly. Jackie pulled up on them in Nashville to confront them.”
According to Mariah Rose, following the confrontation between Young, Smith and Kelly, the WNBA superstar and Carrington posted the same Miami scene on social media. Rose added that everything that has been going on between the four has been calculated.
DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith’s relationship has been well-documented. They started dating in 2020 while still at Baylor. The two started the 2025 season with the Dallas Wings before Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Aces. Not long after, the Wings sent Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx. The former couple, in separate videos in early November 2025, confirmed they had broken up.
Interestingly, Smith and Jackie Young were teammates on the Aces that won the championship.
DiJonai Carrington, Jackie Young and NaLyssa Smith Are All Free Agents
DiJonai Carrington, Jackie Young and NaLyssa Smith are free agents ahead of the 2026 WNBA season. Carrington and Young are unrestricted free agents, allowing them to play for any team. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both will become teammates.
Smith is a restricted free agent, giving the Las Vegas Aces the chance to match any offer for the veteran forward to keep her. If the Aces keep her and re-sign Young, a franchise cornerstone, the intrigue surrounding their relationship would undoubtedly spike.
The “messy” relationship Mariah Rose explained could extend into how Jackie Young and DiJonai Carrington would decide in free agency.
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