DiJonai Carrington’s Reinvention is Key for the Lynx’s Championship Aspirations

When the Minnesota Lynx made a mid-season move to acquire guard DiJonai Carrington from the Dallas Wings, some might have questioned the logic. But the Lynx, under the guidance of head coach Cheryl Reeve, saw something special—a player ready to be properly utilized and to bring her formidable skills to a team with championship aspirations. In a deal that sent Diamond Miller to Dallas, the Lynx gained a player who has become everything they needed and more. Carrington, the reigning WNBA Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team selection, has not only become a lethal three-point shooter but has also brought her pest-like defense to a new level in Minnesota.

The statistics tell a clear story of Carrington’s impact. She entered this season as a career 30 percent three-point shooter, and in the regular season, she was averaging 31 percent. Since joining the Lynx, however, she has been lights out, shooting 66.7% on 2.4 attempts a game. While it could be streaky shooting and these averages will likely come back down, her performance in the playoffs showcased her readiness to make a big-time impact. In her playoff return from a shoulder injury, she dropped six points and two assists on 2-2 shooting from beyond the arc in just 11 minutes of action, with a plus/minus of +20. This is a testament to her efficiency and the seamless way she has integrated into the Lynx offense, as they look to bring home their fifth championship.

But it’s not just her offensive game that has transformed the Lynx. Carrington’s defense has been a major factor. As star Kayla McBride noted, “I’ve said this since she got with us, it’s a luxury to have somebody of her caliber and somebody who’s been in those types of environments, playoff teams…She’s a competitor. She wants to win just as much as all of us. When you add someone like that to the mix, it’s a perfect match.”

This sentiment is echoed by Reeve, who, after Carrington’s performance in game 1, said, “I kind of screwed up in the first half, I missed a chance to get her in there… we wanted to make sure it happened in the second half to see where she was actually at… and I thought she looked good.”

The feeling is clearly mutual. Carrington has found a perfect fit with the Lynx and Coach Reeve. On her first impressions of the coach, Carrington said, “She’s cool you know? You never really know coming into a program with an established coach and an established team. But she’s great, she’s fun, she’s lighthearted, but she’s also focused and she’s going to keep us disciplined, and held accountable for our actions on and off the court. I love that, I don’t want anybody who is just going to allow me to just be mediocre… and just seeing interactions with other people too it makes me more comfortable, just knowing I can be myself.”

The Lynx’s investment in their players and their facilities is also a key factor in Carrington’s success. On what stood out at the Lynx facility, Carrington stated, “I mean just having a space that’s dedicated to you year round. That’s incredible, in-season, off-season if you want to get work in you always have a place to do that… the doctors, physical therapy is all on one site so it’s really easy. You have no excuses.”

It’s clear that the Lynx fanbase has embraced their new star. When DiJonai Carrington checked in for her return from injury, it got so loud for her return you couldn’t hear the PA announcer announcing it. 

The Minnesota Lynx have a knack for getting the best out of their players. Following in the footsteps of Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Alanna Smith, DiJonai Carrington is the latest example. 

If it wasn’t evident before, it’s become clear across the league that if you’re a WNBA player that’s tired of being disrespected and improperly utilized, come to Minnesota.