DiJonai Carrington – Dallas Wings seemed like a union destined to be. A young core with great potential meant a role to lead, head the defense, and gain good minutes for the 5′ 11″ guard. That hilarious chemistry with Paige Bueckers and the rest? It was just the cherry on top. But while Carrington came to be loved in Dallas and the feeling grew mutual, those on-court promises never truly translated. For all the off-court banter and laughs, the Dallas hardwood just did not seem to be the happiest of places. But Cheryl Reeve is already ensuring that isn’t the case in Minnesota. 

In her first game since the trade, DiJonai Carrington came off the bench for 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists to help the Napheesa Collier-less Lynx go past the Storm. Following the impressive debut, she had an interesting remark: “This was one of the first times I’ve had fun playing basketball this season.” That could be interpreted as only one thing: Dallas was not the home she was expecting it to be. In Minnesota, it was already different. 

Where Carrington struggled to cope with coming off the bench in Dallas, Cheryl Reeve had one ask. And you could see why the guard enjoyed the game.

Reeve told the reporters, “We wanted her to try to play without thinking and just try to do simple things. The things that I think Nay likes it’s innate to her is to compete right and whether it’s offensively or defensively. Live in your space, that you know that you don’t play outside of yourself, and that’s what we’re going to try hard to coach.”

It had been just 3 days since Carrington joined the Lynx camp. Of course, Reeve would have explained the theory and the work on the whiteboard, but the results are not often seen immediately on the court. The chemistry takes a while to form, and Reeve just wielded Carrington’s natural talent and used her effort to her advantage. Like Carrington said before the matchup, “I think Coach Reeve knows what I’m capable of. I think she’s going to make sure that I’m given that output every single night.”

And Carrington had one of her best games of the season. She had a gamescore of 12.4, which is more than each of her last 12 games and less than just 2 games this season. It was hard to believe she’d only had one practice with the team before stepping on the court. Considering that, this could only be a trailer for a much bigger picture. Because Reeve is seeing their new addition’s importance on the team, and that is here to stay. 

“Without Nay’s effort, you know we had to move people around. We had Carlton playing some four, we had a little bit of foul trouble, we had an ankle injury, just navigating. And Nay being able to kind of come into a group that’s really established and try to fit and… try not to screw up what’s going on. I thought she did a great job of just being herself.”

With Collier sidelined, Carlton filled in along with Jessica Shepherd as the forward and primary scoring option, but the gap was clear– her 12 points and single assist couldn’t match Collier’s usual 23.5-point average. When Alanna Smith fouled out after just 23 minutes, the Lynx desperately needed an impact off the bench. That’s when Carrington rose to the occasion, delivering exactly the spark they needed to help offset Collier’s absence.

Carrington’s Debut Brings Wings Locker Room Atmosphere In Question

Carrington’s period in Dallas quickly went downhill. In her injury-ridden season, she lost her starting spot on the team, to which she expressed her discontent, saying, “It was hard for me just being that the whole point of me coming to Dallas was to expand my role. So, I feel like, not that coming off the bench means it’s diminished, but sort of in a sense, a little bit.” Dallas’ coach Chris Koclanes tried rookies like Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly in the rotations, and Carrington failed to take back that starting spot. Maybe it was for the better.

She had just one double-digit game in the last 8 games with the Wings, while in Minnesota, that came in game 1. She is happier, too. 

“I’m grateful to be right where I am…it’s been great,” Carrington said postgame. “People are probably like, omg it happened so fast. But I’m right where I need to be.”

The Wings are left slightly red-faced after this game. ESPN already gave the edge to the Lynx in this trade, grading the deal an “A-” for the Lynx and a “B” for the Wings, framing it as a playoff-tilted upgrade for Minnesota and a pragmatic long-term pivot for Dallas. Kevin Pelton even wrote, “Depending on how matchups go, I could even see Carrington starting in the playoffs alongside (Kayla) McBride.”  

So what went wrong? Chris Koclanes? Locker room? Management? We can cross one of those things off as Carrington has denied any rift in the locker room in the past and even called Bueckers her “babygirl forever” after the win. Or the issue was just the timing of the situation. Because in a state to rebuild, the Wings are happy to have Diamond Miller.