DiJonai Carrington Joins Fever Forward Monique Billings On Unrivaled Roster Despite Heated Rivalry

Unrivaled announced that Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington and Fever forward Monique Billings will be teammates on Breeze BC despite Carrington's contentious history with Indiana during the season.

The pairing immediately caught the attention of women's basketball fans across the country.

On Wednesday, the newly formed 3-on-3 league revealed the complete club assignment for Carrington.

She will take the floor for Breeze BC alongside a star-studded collection of talent.

Her new teammates include former Dallas Wings teammate Paige Bueckers, Kahleah Copper, Kaitlyn Chen, and Dominique Malonga.

"What's interesting to note about Breeze's roster is that Carrington will also get to team up with Indiana Fever forward Monique Billings."

That dynamic adds an unexpected twist to the competition starting this January.

Both the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever share one of the most intense rivalries in modern basketball.

Carrington herself stood right at the epicenter of that rivalry during the 2026 campaign.

A HEATED ON-COURT CLASH

The tension between Carrington and the Indiana franchise reached a boiling point on Aug. 8.

During a fierce game between Chicago and Indiana, Carrington committed a hard foul against Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.

Game officials reviewed the contact on the monitor.

Referees quickly upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 foul.

By rule, a Flagrant 2 foul requires immediate ejection from the game.

Carrington was sent directly to the locker room, cutting her evening short.

The drama did not stop when the final buzzer sounded.

Following the game, Carrington sparked widespread conversation across the sports landscape on social media.

She posted the phrase "White Privilege" online and directly tagged the Fever organization.

The public exchange fueled an already explosive regional rivalry between the two Midwestern fan bases.

Now, Carrington must share a locker room and half-court sets with a key member of that very Fever team.

CARRINGTON SEARCHES FOR A FRESH START

The upcoming Unrivaled season offers Carrington an important platform to reset her competitive rhythm.

Her 2026 campaign with the Chicago Sky proved to be extremely frustrating and limited.

Carrington appeared in just 11 games throughout the entire WNBA season.

She was sidelined for the first 27 games while rehabbing a lingering foot injury sustained back in 2025.

Once she returned to the hardwood, she averaged 8.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest.

Chicago struggled as a unit, finishing the regular season with a 16-28 record.

The Sky failed to qualify for the postseason, abruptly ending Carrington's playing opportunities.

Fortunately for the explosive guard, she had already secured a multi-year deal with Unrivaled in August.

The newly launched league will begin play for its 2027 season in January.

Breeze BC will rely heavily on Carrington's perimeter defense and scoring punch in the rapid 3-on-3 format.

BILLINGS FACES CONTRACT UNCERTAINTY IN INDIANA

While Carrington prepares for a healthy winter, Billings enters the offseason surrounded by franchise questions.

The Indiana Fever suffered a disappointing conclusion to their season.

That early exit has fueled heavy speculation regarding impending changes across the roster, coaching staff, and front office.

The front office must make several difficult decisions, and Billings sits near the top of that priority list.

Billings arrived in Indiana with expectations of anchoring the frontcourt rotation.

The Fever envisioned pairing her with Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell.

Supporters hoped that group would form one of the most formidable big fours in the entire league.

However, the veteran forward struggled to find a consistent rhythm throughout the year.

Billings had a down season by her personal standards, averaging 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds across 43 appearances.

Her playing time diminished significantly when the postseason arrived.

The coaching staff left Billings completely out of the active rotation multiple times during the playoffs.

She finished the postseason averaging a career-low 2.0 points per contest in just three brief appearances.

Her diminished role raised immediate questions about her long-term value to the franchise.

THE $800,000 CONTRACT QUIRK

Those questions became even more urgent following a financial revelation on Wednesday.

Fever insider Tony East reported previously unknown contract terms in an article for The IX Sports.

Billings currently has one season remaining on her two-year contract.

That contract carries a significant annual salary-cap hit of $800,000.

Public databases and initial media reports previously listed the contract as fully protected.

East uncovered that the 2027 portion of her deal actually contains strict conditions.

Four league sources confirmed that the upcoming season is only guaranteed if Billings remains on the roster past a specific date.

Her $800,000 salary becomes protected only if she is still under contract after Feb. 1, 2027.

That critical detail means Indiana can walk away from the deal before February without needing to orchestrate a trade.

The Fever currently possess an estimated $3,604,606 in cap space with seven players under contract.

Indiana holds enough financial room to retain Billings for the final year of her agreement.

Yet committing $800,000 to a reserve forward could severely restrict the front office from addressing other depth needs.

Dumping her salary before the deadline would provide immediate relief to sign impactful contributors.

A CHANGE OF SCENERY ON THE HORIZON