Dallas Wings Trade DiJonai Carrington to Minnesota Lynx, Waive Teaira McCowan

The Dallas Wings traded guard DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in exchange for forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round draft pick. The move comes days before the WNBA trade deadline, which is set for Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. EST.

To complete the deal, Dallas waived center Teaira McCowan, ending her four-year tenure with the team.

The trade doesn’t dramatically alter either team’s salary structure. Carrington earns $200,000 this season, while Miller ($83,371) and Samuelson ($118,450) combine for a near-match. Dallas prioritizes adding a future draft asset and a young talent in Miller to take a chance on while moving on from a player whose impact didn’t materialize as hoped.

Trade Follows Weeks of DiJonai Carrington Speculation

When Dallas acquired Carrington in a four-team trade this past February, the goal was to add a defensive catalyst to reshape the team’s perimeter identity. General manager Curt Miller, who originally drafted Carrington while leading the Connecticut Sun, called her addition a top priority.

“DiJonai was arguably the best guard defender in all the league in 2024,” Miller said during Carrington’s introductory press conference. “Adding her was a top priority. We needed someone to help us remake the defensive identity of this team.”

However, as the season unfolded, Carrington’s fit within the Wings’ system became increasingly strained. Despite her relentless energy and rebounding from the guard position, her inefficiency in half-court offense and the team’s defensive struggles during her minutes became mounting issues. Dallas posted a -12.4 net rating in the 497 minutes Carrington played—by far the worst among the team’s rotation players. The team’s defensive rating ballooned to 110.2 when she was on the floor, the highest on the roster.

Carrington’s half-court offensive production was another stumbling block. Among 53 WNBA players with at least 200 half-court possessions this season, she ranked last in points per possession (0.634 PPP), the only player below 0.7 PPP. Her inability to consistently generate efficient scoring as a spot-up shooter or pick-and-roll creator made lineup cohesion challenging.

Carrington’s vision for her arrival in Dallas was to expand her offensive role. She was coming off a season in which she averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals with the Connecticut Sun. After returning from a rib injury that sidelined her for over a month, she admitted that being moved into a bench role was a challenging adjustment for her from a career trajectory standpoint.

“It’s definitely an adjustment,” Carrington said earlier this month. “It was hard for me just being that the whole point of me coming to Dallas was to expand my role. So, I feel like, not that coming off the bench means it’s diminished, but sort of in a sense, a little bit.”

Head coach Chris Koclanes consistently praised Carrington’s intangible qualities but acknowledged the team’s search for consistency had not materialized.

“[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 said after a recent loss to the Atlanta Dream. “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.”

Dallas Wings Reset Their Wing Rotation

With Haley Jones emerging as a reliable contributor and Maddy Siegrist nearing her return from a lengthy knee injury, the Wings are reshaping their wing depth to complement their offensive cornerstones.

The acquisition of Miller is a low-risk chance to develop a former No. 2 overall pick who has yet to find her footing in Minnesota. Miller, who averaged 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists as a rookie in 2023, has reduced her role to just 9.7 minutes per game this season.

However, her shooting efficiency has spiked, although the sample size is small. She converted 53.8% of her three-point attempts, leading all forwards in percentage. Dallas hopes Miller can re-establish herself as an offensive threat who brings size and versatility to a new system.

Karlie Samuelson adds a veteran shooter with a career 39.2% three-point mark, giving Dallas much-needed perimeter spacing. Although limited to 16 appearances this season due to foot surgery, Samuelson’s offensive profile fills an immediate need, but she’ll hit free agency this offseason. Her inclusion in the deal is likely for financial purposes.

Dallas Wings Waive Teaira McCowan to Complete Trade

McCowan, a 6-foot-7 center, was traded to the Wings from the Indiana Fever in 2022. This season, she averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17 games and shot 53.7% from the field. She holds Dallas’ franchise record for career field goal percentage at .570 and ranks sixth in franchise history with 896 rebounds. She was originally selected No. 3 overall by Indiana in the 2019 WNBA Draft.

It’s been a challenge for McCowan to earn playing time this season. Despite being the only traditional center option in training camp, she began the season as backup behind NaLyssa Smith before Luisa Geiselsöder joined the team following overseas obligations. Before returning from playing with Turkey at EuroBasket 2025, the Wings acquired Li Yueru from the Seattle Storm, who has factored more into the center rotation.

McCowan recently produced a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double in 17 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces, then played 12 minutes against the Indiana Fever in the Wings’ last outing. However, she hadn’t been a consistent member of the center rotation.

“I’m pretty proud of myself,” McCowan said after her double-double against Las Vegas. “It’s what I do. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole entire career. So, I just went out and showcased it today.”

As Dallas retools its roster, Koclanes emphasized that the team’s development remains the primary focus.

“We’re a young team, learning and growing together,” Koclanes said. “Every possession is an opportunity to build the right habits. The rest of it, we don’t control. Our focus is on being great teammates and getting better every day.”

More Dallas Wings News & WNBA Rumors

• WNBA News: “We’re Focused on Us”: Dallas Wings’ Chris Koclanes Unfazed by DiJonai Carrington Trade Rumors
• WNBA News: “We Need to Match That Physicality”: Paige Bueckers Scores 22 as Dallas Wings’ Late Rally Falls Short Against Indiana Fever
• WNBA News: Dallas Wings Downgrade Maddy Siegrist to Out, Will Not Dress vs. Indiana Fever
• WNBA News: “Just Trying to Find That Balance”: Paige Bueckers Working to Blend Mid-Range Touch with Rim Pressure
• WNBA News: “We’re Growing”: Dallas Wings Fall to Atlanta Dream as Naz Hillmon’s Clutch Three Seals Back-and-Forth Battle
• WNBA Rumors: Dallas Wings’ DiJonai Carrington Emerges as Trade Candidate Before WNBA’s Midseason Deadline
• WNBA Rumors: WNBA Trade Idea Pairs Dallas Wings Forward with Caitlin Clark on Indiana Fever