What holiday season is all about? Gift exchanges, festive cheers, and cozy family moments, right? For Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington, though, this Christmas has been a bit of everything. Still mourning the recent loss of her beloved grandfather, she’s finally starting to embrace the holiday spirit. But this peace didn’t come without its fair share of drama this year.

Carrington recently posted on her Instagram story. Sitting pretty in the passenger seat as her dad, NFL legend Darren Carrington drove, she shared, “Look who got a new whip for Christmas.” The shiny new Tesla was a showstopper, and with Tesla’s market cap at $1.385 trillion as of December 2024, it was no ordinary gift. 

A perfect way to step into the festive season, right? Except, her holidays came with a side of chaos, courtesy of an Uber driver incident that quickly went viral. In what can only be described as a rollercoaster of a night, the Connecticut star took to Instagram Live to recount a bizarre and unsettling experience with an Uber driver. 

Out with friends, what should’ve been a regular ride turned sour when the group clashed with the driver over playing music in the car. The situation escalated when the driver not only ejected them but also threatened to call the cops. “This stuff is crazy, and I had to really expose it in real-time,” Carrington told her viewers.

She didn’t hold back, calling out the driver for his behavior. “I don’t know why w–te people think they can get away with trying to scare B–ck people by saying, ‘Oh, I’m gonna call the police.’ Okay, and? We did nothing wrong, so go ahead and call the police.”

It didn’t stop there. The driver attempted to communicate with another Uber driver in Spanish. Thankfully, their new driver let them play their music, and the night continued. But let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the holiday vibe she was hoping for. Hope the Tesla and quality family time help make up for the stress.

But do you know? This wasn’t even the toughest situation the baller has faced this year. 

DiJonai Carrington faced harassment amid the WNBA season

Let’s rewind to September when Carrington became the target of an ugly backlash. It all started with an on-court moment during a game against Caitlin Clark’s Fever. In a highly publicized match, Carrington accidentally gave Clark a black eye. While Clark herself admitted it wasn’t intentional, some so-called “fans” took it way too far. 

Carrington started receiving de-th threats, being followed, and enduring relentless ra-st harassment online. Her girlfriend, Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith, wasn’t having it. In a now-viral social media post, Smith fiercely defended Carrington. 

“My girlfriend has been getting de-th threats, followed, called all types of sh—. So, if sending her flowers to make sure her mental health is okay, then coo, cry about it,” she clapped back at critics. The WNBA eventually stepped in, issuing a strong statement against ra-m and harassment. 

The league promised to involve law enforcement if necessary. Now, despite everything, seems like she’s working to reclaim her joy and Christmas gifts. This holiday season might not be picture-perfect, but the Most Improved Player of the Year is finding peace in the chaos.