In the fast-paced world of the WNBA, where on-court rivalries often spill into off-court gossip, Minnesota Lynx star DiJonai Carrington is at the center of fresh speculation. Just days after confirming her breakup with longtime girlfriend NaLyssa Smith, Carrington has ignited rumors of a budding romance with former Connecticut Sun teammate Natisha Hiedeman.
The saga began in early November 2025, when fans noticed Carrington and Smith—once Baylor sweethearts since 2020—had unfollowed each other on Instagram. Cryptic posts followed: Carrington’s emotional Instagram story, “I’ve always been afraid of losing people I love. Sometimes I wonder, is there anyone out there afraid to lose me?” fueled the fire. Smith, now with the Las Vegas Aces, responded subtly with a new look on her feed, hinting at moving on amid their second split (they briefly parted last year before reconciling).
By November’s end, Carrington appeared on the “StudBudz” Twitch stream hosted by Hiedeman and Courtney Williams. Williams toasted to Carrington being “ready for the field,” a cheeky nod to her single status that had fans buzzing. Smith reportedly unfollowed both hosts in response, adding salt to the wound.
Then came the viral clip: a nine-second intimate video of Carrington and Hiedeman, shared widely on X and TikTok, showing playful closeness that screamed chemistry. “They’re giving couple vibes,” one fan tweeted, while another quipped, “From ex-teammates to something more?” The footage, from a casual hangout, exploded online, amassing millions of views.
Hiedeman, fresh off her 2023 split from ex-fiancée Jasmine Thomas, has kept mum. Carrington, 25, confirmed her singledom on the stream: “Very much so single.” Yet the timing—mere weeks post-breakup—has divided fans. Some celebrate the “glow-up,” citing Carrington’s electric energy with Hiedeman, a fellow guard known for her sharpshooting. Others cry foul, accusing Carrington of rebounding too soon after Smith’s championship glow with the Aces.
WNBA relationships have long captivated audiences, from Alyssa Thomas’s past with Jasmine Thomas (who later dated Hiedeman) to the league’s growing visibility of queer love stories. Carrington and Smith’s journey—from college romance to pro trades tearing them apart—tugged heartstrings. Now, with Hiedeman in the mix, the narrative shifts to empowerment or haste?
Neither Carrington nor Hiedeman has addressed the rumors directly. A fellow WNBA player shut down the clip’s poster harshly: “You will be getting banned,” underscoring the league’s protective stance on privacy. As the offseason heats up, one thing’s clear: WNBA offseasons are never dull. Will this trio’s tangled web resolve in love or just more memes? Fans are courtside, popcorn in hand.
