The Dallas Wings slipped and then never really recovered. After their disastrous 1-9 start, they have not gained any ground, winning a total of 8 games. While some may pass it off as a team in transition, their coach, Chris Koclanes, is not one of them, as he recently said, “You have to win games. We have to sit in this, and it’s not going to feel good.” In the end, the goal is to taste victory as many times as possible. However, the management had a drastic response to their bad form as they traded DiJonai Carrington, one of their premier acquisitions in the offseason. Wings traded the guard to the Minnesota Lynx for forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and Minnesota’s 2027 second-round draft pick. Let’s explore all the aspects of this trade. 

Why did the Dallas Wings trade DiJonai Carrington despite her strong performance?

Carrington is their third-best scorer and rebounder with 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Along with that, she has chipped in with 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals, making her one of the rare all-around contributors on this Wings squad. While those numbers look good on the outset, Carrington couldn’t get herself to be comfortable in the Wings system under Koclanes. 

Carrington’s ailing inefficiency in the half-court and the Wings’ defensive collapse during her minutes were impossible to ignore. Dallas was outscored by a staggering 12.4 points per 100 possessions when Carrington was on the court. That is the worst net rating of any rotation player on the roster. The defense was especially leaky, swelling to a porous 110.2 rating with her on the floor, the highest mark on the team. In Koclanes’ system, she went from being a defensive leader to a liability. Out of 53 WNBA players with at least 200 half-court possessions this season, she ranked dead last in points per possession, a mere 0.634 PPP, being the only player to fall below the 0.7 barrier. Her struggles as a spot-up shooter and pick-and-roll initiator made it nearly impossible for the Wings to find offensive rhythm or lineup chemistry when she was involved.

Carrington’s struggles may have stemmed more from the Wings’ shortcomings than her own, as her past seasons prove that she can be among the elite defenders. As Dallas GM Miller put it at her introductory press conference, “Di Jonai was arguably the best guard defender in all the league in 2024.” That lockdown reputation made her a coveted target for contenders eyeing a trade. With Dallas all but eliminated from playoff contention, holding a mere 0.3% chance per ESPN’s Power Index, the front office turned its focus to the future. As it is always in the WNBA, the team’s finances were a crucial factor too, as the Wings waived veteran center Teaira McCowan, prying open cap space and initiating a strategic roster overhaul. They are carrying on with their rebuilding intentions with youngsters like Diamond Miller coming in, along with a handy 2027 second-round draft pick. 

Why does DiJonai Carrington fit the Minnesota Lynx so well?

Minnesota currently boasts the league’s best 24-5 record, and one could feel that they didn’t need anything to change from that. But that is how champions think. They are a couple of steps ahead. The Lynx are the best defensive team in the league, with a rating of 95.1, and considering that defense-first mentality, Carrington is a natural choice to bring in to strengthen that defense further. 

Carrington, a second-round pick out of Baylor in 2021, was one of the best defensive guards last year, when she was chosen to the all-defensive first team. She was also the most improved player of the year while leading the Sun into a deep playoff run. Carrington also has legitimate postseason experience as she appeared in the 2022 WNBA Finals with the Sun and followed that up with back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2023 and ’24 with Napheesa Collier and Minnesota’s firing on all cylinders. Carrington’s defensive responsibilities under Cheryl Reeve are refreshingly straightforward as she is expected to lock in on defense and energy plays, not carry the scoring load. Along with that, Carrington will be reuniting with her Connecticut Sun teammate Natisha Hiedeman. The two have a great bond, along with her Stubud Courtney Williams, and Carrington has appeared on their stream multiple times. 

Coming off the bench, where she’s made her mark in past seasons, Carrington can increase her intensity further, something she couldn’t bring in Dallas as a starter. Her presence injects grit, defensive ferocity, and unmatched versatility into the Lynx backcourt, reducing the gaps in a defense that already tops the league. 

What does this trade signal about the future of both teams?

This move is a clear signal that the Minnesota Lynx are going all-in for a championship, and Carrington’s rival may be the edge they need to push them over the top. Her athleticism and physicality will inject them with more motivation in the future. 

Even with playoff hopes in the rearview mirror, the rest of the season remains important concerning their growth of the Dallas Wings. The Wings can bring Diamond Miller into the mix and gel with the current talents in Dallas. With a free agent flurry coming in 2026, Wings have obtained Miller through 2026, which is crucial as well. Along with that could come a possible salary cap jump because of the impending CBA negotiation. Despite being sidelined by a season-ending injury, Karlie Samuelson provides a valuable veteran presence that the young core can learn from when she returns. Or, she could also be a chip in one of their trades in the offseason, and the same goes for their 2027 second-round pick.