WNBA fans are making their voices heard after People Magazine fumbled a social media post about the league's prominent couples. The magazine, which recently published a feature celebrating three WNBA relationships for the 2026 season, sparked outrage when its promotional post listed DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith as a current pair—despite the fact that the two have been broken up for months.
The feature itself highlighted Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd—now teammates on the Dallas Wings—along with Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, and Natasha Cloud and Izzy Harrison. But when People shared the story on social media, the caption included Carrington and Smith, who were not even part of the original article. Fans quickly noticed the error and flooded the comments with corrections.
“NaLyssa and DiJonai are not pictured, not in your story, and not together,” one fan wrote. “Fix your caption.” Another user added, “This is why y'all need to stay out of people's business and focus on the game.” A third fan simply said, “Not them thinking DiJonai is still dating that girl.”
Carrington herself confirmed in the fall that she had “permanently closed” that chapter of her life, making it clear the relationship was over. The outdated reference rubbed many the wrong way, especially given the broader context of how WNBA players' personal lives are often scrutinized. The backlash echoes recent criticism of how athletes' private matters are handled in the media.
The incident comes at a time when WNBA players are increasingly asserting their boundaries around personal questions. Bueckers, for example, recently addressed the media about her relationship with Fudd, stating, “Our personal relationship is nobody's business but our own, and what we choose to share is completely up to us.” She emphasized that she and Fudd have always conducted themselves professionally and that they never let off-court matters affect their game.
People Magazine has not yet responded to the backlash, and Carrington has remained silent on the misleading post. But the episode has reignited conversations about respect for athletes' privacy and the responsibility of media outlets to get facts straight. As one fan put it, “They need to delete this immediately.” The blunder is a reminder that even well-intentioned features can backfire when they fail to do their homework—something that has become increasingly common in the age of rapid social media sharing, much like the swift reactions seen in other sports controversies.
With the WNBA season just kicking off, fans are eager to focus on the action on the court—not on outdated gossip. The league's athletes have made it clear they want the spotlight to shine on their game, not their personal lives. Maybe it's time for media outlets to take note.
