The Dallas Wings made a big roster transfer Sunday, sending guard DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx in trade for ahead Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round draft decide. Dallas waived heart Teaira McCowan to finalize the commerce, parting methods with the veteran after 4 seasons.
The deal comes simply days earlier than the WNBA commerce deadline and indicators a shift in Dallas’ strategy, shifting on from gamers who haven’t meshed inside their system whereas buying future property.
DiJonai Carrington’s Vitality Couldn’t Overcome Match Challenges
Introduced in to be a defensive tone-setter, Carrington’s tenure in Dallas was marked by effort and depth—however the group struggled to seek out success in her minutes. The Wings posted a staggering -12.4 internet ranking within the 497 minutes Carrington performed this season, in comparison with a near-even 0.4 internet ranking within the 668 minutes with out her.
Whereas Carrington supplied elite rebounding from the guard place and pushed the tempo in transition, inefficiency in half-court units grew to become a evident difficulty. Amongst 53 WNBA gamers with at the least 200 half-court possessions, Carrington ranked final with 0.634 factors per possession, the one participant under 0.7 PPP.
Defensively, the Wings hoped Carrington’s ball strain would elevate their identification, however the outcomes by no means adopted. Along with her on the ground, the group allowed 110.2 factors per 100 possessions, the worst defensive ranking amongst all Dallas gamers logging at the least 20 minutes.
Head coach Chris Koclanes remained supportive main as much as the commerce, emphasizing her intangible impression, however acknowledged a constant impression had not been achieved but.
“[DiJonai] brings an vitality that’s completely different from anybody else. She’s not good, however she performs so exhausting defensively and persistently runs the ground,” Koclanes defined. “She places strain on the rim and was environment friendly across the basket tonight. That vitality is contagious—for the group and the gang. They feed off her and imagine in her. We’d like that model of her persistently.”
With Haley Jones rising as a robust contributor and Maddy Siegrist on the verge of coming back from a prolonged knee damage restoration course of, the Wings have gamers they view as favorable matches on the wing to go with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
Diamond Miller Affords Wings a Recent Developmental Alternative
By shifting Carrington and waiving McCowan, Dallas clears roster house for a brand new look whereas including draft property. The Wings have now acquired a 2027 first-round decide from Las Vegas (in trade for NaLyssa Smith) and a 2027 second-round decide from Minnesota by shifting two gamers with team-worst internet scores (Smith -10.3, Carrington -12.4).
Miller, the No. 2 general decide within the 2023 WNBA Draft, now arrives in Dallas with the chance for a contemporary begin. After averaging 12.1 factors, 3.5 rebounds, and a couple of.5 assists as a rookie, Miller’s function shrunk to only 9.7 minutes per sport this season with the Lynx. Nonetheless, her 53.8% three-point capturing as a ahead stays an intriguing instrument for a Dallas roster needing capturing and flexibility.
Veteran guard Karlie Samuelson additionally joins Dallas, including a profession 39.2% three-point shooter into the combination, however stays sidelined after present process surgical procedure on her left foot.
Minnesota Lynx Bets on DiJonai Carrington’s Position Readability
The Lynx, in the meantime, are wagering that Carrington’s defensive impression will translate extra cleanly in a veteran-laden atmosphere. Carrington averaged 12.7 factors, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals throughout her stint with the Connecticut Solar whereas enjoying almost half-hour per sport in a clearly outlined function alongside stars like Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.
Minnesota hopes that with a structured system and extra veteran management, Carrington can thrive in a extra centered task, maximizing her strengths with out overextending her offensive duties. In spite of everything, she was named the Most Improved Participant final season with Connecticut.
For Dallas, the transfer is about recalibrating—including upside expertise in Miller, confirmed capturing with Samuelson, and securing beneficial draft capital whereas pivoting in the direction of a long-term developmental strategy.
