After the Indiana Fever’s playoff loss to the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, Sun guard DiJonai Carrington and Fever forward NaLyssa Smith became targets of social media attacks. Carrington faced racist remarks from individuals in the sports community, while Sun fans commented on the atmosphere of Game 2.
One fan at the game shared their experience, describing how a woman behind them mocked Carrington’s eyelashes, only stopping after being confronted for her racist behavior. They also mentioned seeing a man wearing a MAGA hat and another person sporting a shirt with a “ban nails” slogan, creating a hostile environment.
Amidst this negativity, Smith took to X to defend her girlfriend. “Now that I can speak freely, my girlfriend has been receiving death threats, being followed, and called all sorts of things. So if sending her flowers to check on her mental health bothers you, cry about it,” Smith wrote.
The couple had notable interactions during Game 1. Despite Connecticut’s dominant win, there was a moment where Smith appeared unhappy with Carrington. However, they later embraced after the Sun advanced to the semifinals.
