The Dallas Wings made a significant roster move Sunday, sending guard DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round draft pick. Dallas waived center Teaira McCowan to finalize the trade, parting ways with the veteran after four seasons.
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The deal comes just days before the WNBA trade deadline and signals a shift in Dallas’ approach, moving on from players who haven’t meshed within their system while acquiring future assets.
DiJonai Carrington’s Energy Couldn’t Overcome Fit Challenges
Brought in to be a defensive tone-setter, Carrington’s tenure in Dallas was marked by effort and intensity—but the team struggled to find success in her minutes. The Wings posted a staggering -12.4 net rating in the 497 minutes Carrington played this season, compared to a near-even 0.4 net rating in the 668 minutes without her.
While Carrington provided elite rebounding from the guard position and pushed the pace in transition, inefficiency in half-court sets became a glaring issue. Among 53 WNBA players with at least 200 half-court possessions, Carrington ranked last with 0.634 points per possession, the only player below 0.7 PPP.
Defensively, the Wings hoped Carrington’s ball pressure would elevate their identity, but the results never followed. With her on the floor, the team allowed 110.2 points per 100 possessions, the worst defensive rating among all Dallas players logging at least 20 minutes.
Head coach Chris Koclanes remained supportive leading up to the trade, emphasizing her intangible impact, but acknowledged a consistent impact had not been achieved yet.
“[DiJonai] brings an energy that’s different from anyone else. She’s not perfect, but she plays so hard defensively and consistently runs the floor,” Koclanes explained. “She puts pressure on the rim and was efficient around the basket tonight. That energy is contagious—for the team and the crowd. They feed off her and believe in her. We need that version of her consistently.”
With Haley Jones emerging as a strong contributor and Maddy Siegrist on the verge of returning from a lengthy knee injury recovery process, the Wings have players they view as favorable fits on the wing to compliment Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
Diamond Miller Offers Wings a Fresh Developmental Opportunity
By moving Carrington and waiving McCowan, Dallas clears roster space for a new look while adding draft assets. The Wings have now acquired a 2027 first-round pick from Las Vegas (in exchange for NaLyssa Smith) and a 2027 second-round pick from Minnesota by moving two players with team-worst net ratings (Smith -10.3, Carrington -12.4).
Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, now arrives in Dallas with the opportunity for a fresh start. After averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists as a rookie, Miller’s role shrunk to just 9.7 minutes per game this season with the Lynx. Still, her 53.8% three-point shooting as a forward remains an intriguing tool for a Dallas roster needing shooting and versatility.
Veteran guard Karlie Samuelson also joins Dallas, adding a career 39.2% three-point shooter into the mix, but remains sidelined after undergoing surgery on her left foot.
Minnesota Lynx Bets on DiJonai Carrington’s Role Clarity
The Lynx, meanwhile, are wagering that Carrington’s defensive impact will translate more cleanly in a veteran-laden environment. Carrington averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals during her stint with the Connecticut Sun while playing nearly 30 minutes per game in a clearly defined role alongside stars like Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.
Minnesota hopes that with a structured system and more veteran leadership, Carrington can thrive in a more focused assignment, maximizing her strengths without overextending her offensive responsibilities. After all, she was named the Most Improved Player last season with Connecticut.
For Dallas, the move is about recalibrating—adding upside talent in Miller, proven shooting with Samuelson, and securing valuable draft capital while pivoting towards a long-term developmental approach.
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