After DiJonai Carrington, girlfriend NaLyssa Smith fires back at Christine Brennan for allegedly fuelling racist narratives

NaLyssa Smith, DiJonai Carrington’s girlfriend, took a shot at Christine Brennan in a recently-deleted Instagram story. [photo: @nalyssasmith/IG, @dijonai_/IG

NaLyssa Smith, who plays for the Indiana Fever, didn’t say anything following her girlfriend DiJonai Carrington’s controversial interview with USA Today reporter Christine Brennan. The exchange between Carrington and Brennan before Game 2 of the Fever-Sun first-round playoff series stirred a hornet’s nest.

Many thought Brennan showed bias against the Connecticut guard following Carrington’s eye-poke against Smith’s teammate, Caitlin Clark, in Game 1. The WNBPA released a statement a day after the viral interview to address the issue. Part of the statement said that Brennan baited Carrington into a talk that would “fuel racist, homophobic and misogynistic vitriol.”

To clap back at Christine Brennan, NaLyssa Smith posted an Instagram story that she later deleted. She wrote:

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“& for some reason she was still in the interview room this fine morning asking questions.. [laugh emoji]”

NaLyssa Smith took a shot at Christine Brennan before taking down her Instagram post. [@nalyssasmith/IG]

Smith’s already deleted story came after Carrington took a shot at Brennan:

“@cbrennansports, goofy.”

DiJonai Carrington trolls Christine Brennan on IG. [photo: @dijonai_

NaLyssa Smith likely held back from saying something as she played against DiJonai Carrington in the playoffs. When the Indiana Fever were eliminated in two games, the gloves were off. She couldn’t resist taking a dig at Brennan.

The USA Today reporter was at Gainbridge FieldHouse Arena on Saturday for the Indiana Fever’s final event before their offseason started. Christine Brennan showed she still covered the occasion with a post on X, formerly Twitter:

“Exit interview day in Indianapolis for the Fever.”

NaLyssa Smith must have been unaware USA Today has fully supported Christine Brennan

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association’s statement didn’t just stop with its calling out of Christine Brennan. The association’s executive director, Terri Carmichael Jackson, also asked USA Today to explain why a “reporter with clear bias and ulterior motives were assigned to cover the league.”

The network responded to the statement with a post on X:

“Journalists ask questions and seek truth. At USA TODAY, our mission is to report in an unbiased manner. We reject the notion that the interview perpetuated any narrative other than to get the player’s perspective directly.

“Christine Brennan is well regarded as an advocate for women and athletes, but first and foremost, she’s a journalist.”

Had NaLyssa Smith been aware of this press release from USA Today, she would not have wondered on Instagram why Christine Brennan was in Indiana. Brennan will still cover the WNBA, so she will likely continue interacting with the players, including DiJonai Carrington.

Smith’s season is over, but she will be supporting her girlfriend. Many will be watching if the couple says something about Brennan if she interacts again with the WNBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year winner.