DiJonai Carrington Biography: DiJonai Carrington born January 8, 1998 is an American basketball player currently with the Connecticut Sun. She played college basketball at Stanford and later at Baylor before being selected by the Sun in the 2021 WNBA Draft.
DiJonai Carrington is an American basketball player for the Connecticut Sun. She played college basketball for Stanford and later Baylor before being drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the 2021 WNBA draft.
Born: 8 January 1998 (age 26 years), San Diego, California, United States
Current team: Connecticut Sun (#21 / Guard)
Height: 1.8 m
College: Stanford (2016–2020); Baylor (2020–2021)
High school: Horizon Christian; (San Diego, California)
League: WNBA
Listed weight: 175 lb (79 kg)
| Born | January 8, 1998 San Diego, California, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| High school | Horizon Christian (San Diego, California) |
| College |
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| WNBA draft | 2021: 2nd round, 20th overall pick |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Category | Football Biographies |
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Carrington attended Horizon Christian Academy in San Diego, California, where she amassed over 2,000 career points. During her high school career, she averaged 18.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Her impressive performance earned her recognition as a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic All-American. Following her successful high school tenure, she committed to play for Stanford.
| Full Name | DiJonai Carrington |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1998 |
| Age | 26 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
| Weight | 175 lbs (79 kg) |
| Father | Darren Russell Carrington |
| Mother | Vickie Carrington |
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As of September 2025, DiJonai Carrington is signed to the Connecticut Sun under a three-year rookie contract valued at $193,370, which includes a fourth-year team option worth $78,469 that was exercised by the Sun on May 15, 2023. Following the exercise of this option, Carrington’s average annual salary increased to $67,959 from the previous $64,457 (via Spotrac).
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Cap Hit | Dead Cap | Yearly Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $61,543 | $61,543 | $61,543 | ||
| 2022 | $62,774 | $62,774 | $62,774 | ||
| 2023 | $69,053 | $69,053 | $69,053 | ||
| 2025 | $78,469 | $78,469 | $78,469 | ||
| 2025 | RFA | RFA | RFA | RFA | RFA |
DiJonai Carrington will earn $78,469 for the 2025 WNBA season and will become a restricted free agent in the offseason of 2025.
Carrington earns approximately $0.14 per minute. Given that there are 525,600 minutes in a year, dividing her total salary for 2025 ($78,469) by the total number of minutes yields this figure.
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As of September 2025, DiJonai Carrington’s total earnings from her WNBA contracts amount to roughly $193,370, according to Spotrac (data updated through 2023).
Carrington’s contract includes a team option for the final year. Her three-year rookie contract, worth $193,370, has a fourth-year team option of $78,469 that the Sun activated on May 15, 2023. She will enter restricted free agency in the 2025 offseason.
Carrington’s contract guarantees three out of the four years, totaling $193,370.
Here’s a summary of all contracts DiJonai Carrington has signed to date:
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DiJonai Carrington, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, is a shooting guard for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. Drafted as the 20th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, she made a significant impact in the 2025 season by scoring her 1,000th career point against the Los Angeles Sparks. Carrington also achieved career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, positioning herself as a strong contender for the Most Improved Player of the Season award.
DiJonai comes from a family with a strong sports legacy. Her father, Darren Russell Carrington, played in the NFL as a defensive back from 1989 to 1996, having been drafted by the Denver Broncos. Her mother, Vickie Carrington, was the Athletic Director at Horizon Christian Academy from 2001 to 2017, later taking roles as head coach and Associate Athletic Director at Christian Unified Schools. As of March 2023, she joined Santa Fe Christian Schools as an educator and basketball coach. DiJonai has two siblings: her sister, Diarra, who played point guard at Daytona University, and her brother, Darren, who played wide receiver at Oregon and Utah.
DiJonai Carrington is in a relationship with NaLyssa Smith, a player for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. The couple began dating during their time at Baylor University, where Carrington transferred for her redshirt senior year. NaLyssa, a power forward, was the second overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft and has been a key player in the Fever’s rebuilding efforts.
Carrington has played a crucial role for the Connecticut Sun, transitioning from bench player to starter in the 2025 season. Here are her career statistics:
| Year | Team | GP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | STL | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Connecticut Sun | 24 | 32.9 | 14.3 | 73.3 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.8 |
| 2022 | Connecticut Sun | 32 | 41.4 | 30.6 | 75.0 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 6.8 |
| 2023 | Connecticut Sun | 36 | 41.7 | 37.1 | 75.7 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 8.3 |
| 2025 | Connecticut Sun | 39 | 40.3 | 25.0 | 79.0 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 12.7 |
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DiJonai Carrington has made a name for herself at every level of basketball, becoming one of the league’s top perimeter defenders. Some of her notable achievements include:
| Year | Age | Cash Cumulative |
| 2021 | 23 | $61,543 |
| 2022 | 24 | $124,317 |
| 2023 | 25 | $193,370 |
| 2025 | 26 | $271,839 |