"So vile" - DiJonai Carrington confronts mockery over grandfather’s tragic death

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington is mourning the loss of her grandfather, whom she described as one of her biggest supporters throughout her basketball career. She also expressed frustration that some individuals have exploited her grief to mock her and her family.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player shared that her family’s mourning has become a target for hateful comments, describing the behavior as “vile.”

“Wow. mocking my grandfather’s death & our family’s pain/mourning as a way to incite hate on me, once again, because of a basketball game is just so vile. whoever you are, i pray God heals that hate in your heart & that evil spirit within you,” she wrote.

She included the Bible verses Matthew 5:44-45, which encourage loving one’s enemies and praying for them amid persecution.

In a subsequent post, Carrington expressed gratitude to those who offered love, condolences and prayers during her time of loss.

Over the weekend, Carrington paid tribute to her grandfather by sharing several photos of them together. She reflected on how he had always supported her basketball journey, even before her time in the WNBA.

"He fought so hard and through so much pain. My only solace is knowing that he can now rest in peace with grandma and the Lord. I'll never have to right words to express what he means to me. Really my guy fr. & never missed a game in phx from a kid to the wnba. Thank you for fighting so I could be by your side for your last days on this earth," Carrington wrote.

"My heart is just broken, everything is broken but I know God is a God of love and I have to hold onto that."

Among the photos, Carrington shared a heartfelt message from her grandfather, where he expressed his love for her.

"I'm glad to know you are thinking about me. I think about you every day I love you ❤️," Carrington's grandfather wrote.

READ: "My heart is just broken" - DiJonai Carrington shares heartfelt tribute to her grandfather with touching photo collage

Marina Mabrey’s response to DiJonai Carrington’s post raises questions

Marina Mabrey, DiJonai Carrington's Connecticut Sun teammate, sparked curiosity with her reply to Carrington’s grieving post on X.

Mabrey responded with “As s,” which fans speculated was an accidental tweet.

READ: "She thought she was on her burner" - Fans shocked at Marina Mabrey's 'a**' comment on DiJonai Carrington's tribute for late granddad

Later, Mabrey addressed the situation during an Instagram Live session, claiming her X account had been hacked.

Both Mabrey and Carrington are set to play in the inaugural season of the Unrivaled basketball league, which begins in January.