WNBA-Leading Lynx Add Defensive Star Power, Trade for DiJonai Carrington

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The Minnesota Lynx, sitting atop the WNBA standings at 24–5, made a significant roster move on Monday, acquiring guard DiJonai Carrington from the Dallas Wings in a blockbuster trade that sends a strong signal: Minnesota is all in for a championship run. In exchange, the Wings will receive forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and the Lynx’s 2027 second-round draft pick. As part of the roster reshuffle, Dallas also waived veteran center Teaira McCowan. Carrington, 26, joins Minnesota after a breakout season in Dallas where she averaged 10.4 points and a career-high 5.1 rebounds per game. A tenacious perimeter defender and the reigning WNBA Most Improved Player, Carrington also earned All-Defensive First Team honors last season while playing for the Connecticut Sun. Her arrival couldn’t come at a better time for Minnesota. With All-Star forward Napheesa Collier sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury, Carrington is expected to bring toughness, versatility, and leadership on both ends of the floor.

“DiJonai is the kind of competitor every team wants in the postseason,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “She defends, she rebounds, she plays with heart—and she wins.”

For Dallas, the trade marks a continued shift toward a long-term rebuild centered around No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers. The Wings have struggled mightily this season, sitting at 8–21 and losers of eight of their last 10 games. Diamond Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft, never quite found her rhythm in Minnesota, averaging 7.1 points per game over two seasons. Still, her athleticism and upside make her an intriguing addition to the Wings’ young core. Samuelson, acquired by the Lynx in April, had been averaging 3.3 points per game this season before undergoing surgery on her left foot in June. Her timeline to return remains unclear. To make roster space, Dallas waived Teaira McCowan, a former All-Star who had been on a protected veteran contract. McCowan was averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in limited minutes.

Championship Push vs. Youth Movement

For Minnesota, the addition of Carrington is a calculated move to bolster an already elite defense and maintain momentum heading into the postseason. The Lynx lead the league in both defensive rating and point differential, and Carrington’s gritty, high-energy style fits perfectly into their identity. Meanwhile, the Wings now boast a young nucleus that includes Bueckers, Miller, Maddy Siegrist, and Veronica Burton. With a lottery pick likely awaiting them in 2026, Dallas seems content to build through the draft while developing internal talent.

“We’re building something sustainable,” said Wings GM Greg Bibb. “This move gives us cap flexibility, future assets, and two players with real potential.”

As the playoff picture comes into focus, Minnesota's championship ambitions just got a major boost. And while Dallas might be out of the playoff hunt in 2025, the pieces for a promising future are starting to take shape.