The Minnesota Lynx acquired guard DiJonai Carrington from the Dallas Wings, the teams announced on Sunday. Going to Dallas in exchange are forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson and the Lynx’s 2027 second-round draft pick.
Minnesota already had the WNBA’s best record by a rather significant margin at 24-5, six games ahead of the defending champion New York Liberty. Now, the Lynx have bolstered their defense by adding the 5-foot-11 Carrington. The five-year veteran was named to the All-Defensive first team last season, in addition to winning the league’s Most Improved Player award.
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This season with the Wings, Carrington averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20 games. She was Dallas’ third-leading scorer behind Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale. If she maintains that production, Carrington will be Minnesota’s fourth-leading scorer and rebounder.
The WNBA’s trade deadline is Aug. 7.
Carrington, 27, was in her first season with Dallas (8-21) after playing four years with the Connecticut Sun, who selected her in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft out of Baylor.
She and guard Tyasha Harris went to Dallas in a four-team trade that sent Alyssa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury, with guards Jacy Sheldon, Rebecca Allen and Natasha Cloud, along with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, going to Connecticut (who selected NC State’s Saniya Rivers). Forward NaLyssa Smith also went to Dallas, while Satou Sabally was dealt to Phoenix in the deal.
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Last year, Carrington averaged 12.7 points and five rebounds per game as the Sun finished with the WNBA’s second-best record at 28-12 before losing to the Lynx in the playoff semifinals.
Miller was averaging 4.1 points and shooting 54% on 26 3-point attempts in her third season for Minnesota. Samuelson was scoring 3.3 points and shooting 35% on 34 3-point tries. She returns to the Wings after playing with them during the 2019 season.
The Wings also waived center Teaira McCowan, who was averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.