Injuries have clipped Dallas’ Wings, and it looks like they’re not able to take off! Chris Koclanes was handed the reins of a young franchise, with a super-talented core of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and DiJonai Carrington. But about twenty games into the season, only Paige Bueckers remains in the young big 3, with Ogunbowale and Carrington sitting out due to injuries. And that, quite obviously, has meant that the team hasn’t been playing as well as they can.

The best example of Dallas’ woes this season has to be their record against Chicago. Angel Reese and company pulled off a clean sweep against the Wings in the regular season. There were bright moments, like JJ Quinerly and Li Yueru’s breakout games, and there were dark spots regarding the team’s perimeter defense, which is partly because of Carrington’s absence. Luckily, things might finally go in favor of the Wings as a major update arises.

According to Melissa Triebwasser, Arike Ogunbowale pulled up to practice today and participated in live drills as well! If the five-foot-eight offensive menace returns to the floor, Indiana will have their job cut out for the upcoming fixture. As per reporter Myah Taylor on X, Arike Ogunbowale has been bumped up to ‘probable’ for Sunday’s game against the Indiana Fever. Considering that Dallas lost 2 out of their last 3 games in which Arike wasn’t on the court, fans are eagerly awaiting her return. But what about last year’s Most Improved Player, DiJonai Carrington?

Carrington hasn’t been on the hardwood floor for seven games, and Dallas has felt every single minute of her absence. The five-foot-eleven guard is currently averaging around twelve points, five boards, and a steal and a half per game, adding valuable production from the bench. So, let’s find out what the latest update is about DiJonai Carrington’s return to the court.

Dallas’ injury expectations take a hit as DiJonai Carrington is not yet ready to join Paige Bueckers and the Wings

There’s no doubting the role that DiJonai Carrington has carved out for herself over the last couple of years. 2024 was a breakout year for her, as the backup guard found her niche and stuck to it. And since then? It’s been raining awards for the young star. Not only did Carrington win the MIP trophy last year, but she also found herself in the All-Defensive First Team.

After all, Carrington’s known to be a pesky on-ball defender who can contest shots and steal the ball from under people’s noses. However, for the last seven games, the All-Defensive guard has been ruled out due to a rib injury. It hasn’t been easy on the Wings, however, as shooters like Sami Whitcomb have been punishing Dallas for their poor perimeter defense.

The newest update to Carrington’s injury is that the five-foot-eleven guard joined the Dallas Wings today for practice ahead of the Indiana Fever game. However, according to both Triebwasser and Drake Keeler, she was in uniform but not participating in the live drills. Not to mention, GM Curtis Miller said that DiJonai Carrington was a non-contact participant in the practice, as per Myah Taylor.

It will be interesting to see how the Dallas Wings manage Carrington’s injury going forward. The guard is obviously one of the most crucial pieces for the team, and her absence has led to a lot of issues for Dallas and Paige Bueckers alike. Hopefully, DiJonai Carrington can find her way back onto the court soon enough and provide meaningful depth for the Wings going forward.