Cameras Catch NaLyssa Smith’s Heartwarming Gesture Toward DiJonai Carrington After Dallas’ 20th WNBA Loss

“Sick to my stomach, dawg,” NaLyssa Smith wrote after being traded to the Las Vegas Aces out of the blue. While it was a strategic move for the Dallas Wings, it hit harder for Smith on a personal level. She was separated from her partner, DiJonai Carrington, who had also just joined the franchise via a trade—just like Smith. The couple had hoped to play together for the entire season. However, their partnership was cut short. 

And Carrington did have a subtle reaction to the trade. After the move was announced, the reigning Most Improved Player of the Year just posted a broken heart emoji on X. Later, she followed that up with photos of her and Smith, captioned with a bandaged heart, infinity symbol, and some plus signs. This was her signaling to the fans that their bond was still stronger than ever. 

Fast forward to today, and the now-Aces player was courtside for the game and was seen enthusiastically cheering every Dallas basket. After the game concluded, the 24-year-old met up with her partner and was photographed with her. While chaos ensued around them, Smith’s only concern was for Carrington as she consoled and had a conversation with the 27-year-old, who was visibly disappointed. The couple has been together despite playing on different teams for years after they started dating during their time at Baylor. 

Coming back to the game, though Carrington had a decent performance, scoring 8 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds while playing 25 minutes off the bench, it is evident that she has been having a tough time at the Wings in the past few weeks. She suffered a rib injury after drawing a charge against her former team, the Connecticut Sun. And ever since she came back, she has lost her starting spot as JJ Quinerly has taken over. Further, after Smith’s trade, the mood in Dallas is also trending towards a Carrington exit, making this moment even more significant. 

Along with that, Carrington’s squad without Smith is not doing any better either, as they sank to their 20th loss. Naz Hillmon dropped the dagger with just 2.6 seconds left on the clock to hand the Wings a close 88–85 loss. While that’s that, the team wasn’t exactly eyeing big wins in their first season rebuilding the team, but the hopes rose after their 6-2 run in the second half of last month. The Wings have now sunk into their old ways with just 2 wins in their last 9 games. While they grapple with short-term issues, there are long-term problems regarding their home court that are yet to be dealt with. 

Dallas Wings’ sudden venue change for the Fever game was unplanned 

The Dallas Wings have officially moved their next game against the Indiana Fever to the American Airlines Center in Dallas for a second time after the record-breaking attendance for their first match-up of the season last month. Their home venue, the College Park Center, hosts only 7,000 seats, and to accommodate the extensive demand, the 20,000+ seater Airlines Center suits better. 

Their previous showdown drew a star-packed crowd of 20,409 on June 27, shattering the Dallas franchise’s regular-season attendance record. To top that, it was the eighth WNBA regular-season game ever to top 20,000 fans. NBA icon Kyrie Irving, Cowboys standout Micah Parsons, and Mavericks No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg headlined the audience, as more than a million tuned in on TV. In response to that electric turnout and overwhelming feedback, the Wings’ CEO revealed that it was only then did the team made the call to move the rematch to the American Airlines Center, seizing the momentum of a truly historic night.

“The business success was remarkable in terms of the revenue we could generate off the game,” Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb told The Dallas Morning News. “There was no plan before June 27 to play the second game at American Airlines Center this year, but it was such a success that we pivoted quickly.”

Amazingly, the Wings hadn’t mapped out this move before the season. However, considering the huge turnout from their matchups against the Indiana Fever last year and their growing fanbase, this was expected. And it’s not a solo show either, as Paige Bueckers-Caitlin Clark’s emerging rivalry is set to grace the WNBA for the next few years. 

Now, with all eyes on another record-setting crowd, Dallas is set for another memorable night, and this time, they’re ready for the spotlight.