This year’s WNBA trade deadline came and went by, and thankfully, it didn’t shake up the rosters much. But it was a bit eventful for DiJonai Carrington after the Dallas Wings traded her to the Minnesota Lynx.
Despite sitting at the top of the league’s points table, the Lynx kept adding fitting players to the championship-worthy roster. When the Wings came clean on their intentions with the star shooting guard, Minnesota was right there to grab the opportunity. All in good faith to win their fifth WNBA ring.
DiJonai Carrington’s Addition Looks Promising For Minnesota Lynx’s Title Run
With Minnesota sitting atop the league at 22-8, this trade feels like the spark they need to chase a record-setting fifth title, and Carrington’s early performances are proving why. The trade sent forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round pick to Dallas, but it’s Carrington who’s stealing the show.
After a rough stint with the Wings, where she shot just 35.4% and averaged 10.4 points, she’s found new life in Minnesota. In her first three games, she’s averaging 13.3 points on a sizzling 62.5% shooting, per SB Nation. Her fit with the Lynx’s high-octane system is seamless, and it’s got everyone thinking this could be the piece that pushes them over the top.
Breaking: The Dallas Wings have traded guard DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson and Minnesota's 2027 second round pick, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/SjHazYeNnw
— espnW (@espnW) August 3, 2025
However, she is giving away all the good reasons to talk. Carrington’s no stranger to elite play, and we saw it when she got the 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player and an All-Defensive First Team nod with the Connecticut Sun. Her strong defensive play is a perfect match for Minnesota’s league-best 95.5 defensive rating.
During a win over the New York Liberty last Sunday, she dropped 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Additionally, she held star guard Sabrina Ionescu to just 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting. It seems like her world has turned around after the Wings trade. And it truly has.
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While her impact off the bench is huge, DiJonai Carrington is perfectly suiting up teammates Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith. Additionally, starters Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, Carrington adds another lockdown perimeter defender.
DiJonai Carrington Shares Motivation Behind Adjusting To A New Team
Lynx guard McBride called her a “luxury” for their rotation, especially if they face Ionescu and the Liberty in the Finals. But there’s something that keeps the California-born getting clicks with her play.
“At the end of the day, I feel like it’s just about playing hard and competing, making it difficult, and that doesn’t have anything to do with schemes. It’s just about heart, and about effort, and about wanting to do that. It’s just about wanting to do that. Everything else falls into place. Everyone does the same schemes, so it’s not like it’s that difficult to adjust to a new team; you’re guarding the same people,” Carrington said (via SB Nation).
DiJonai Carrington checks in to a standing ovation after her standout Lynx debut last game 👏
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 8, 2025
WAS-MIN | IONpic.twitter.com/Kza1od8UYI
Though the Lynx were already a powerhouse, Carrington’s two-way play takes them to another level. Her familiarity with teammates like Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman from her Sun days, plus her college connection with Alanna Smith at Stanford, has made her transition smooth. Hopefully, with everything looking just fine, her fans will wait to see how things turn around heading into the playoffs.