Life in the WNBA is no easy road. It has been called by many fans the most challenging league in the world to make it in, and year after year there is more evidence. Even being drafted in the first round does not guarantee you a roster spot that season.
When a player makes it past that point and starts showing signs of promise, it feels like it may finally be their time. Dijonai Carrington had started to find her way in her first two seasons. She played in 60 games over two years. The team picked up her option, tying her to the team through the next two years should they so choose. And yet, Carrington had only played two minutes through the first three games of the season. Even with playing time picking up a little recently, the questions remain.
After two years with the Connecticut Sun, Carrington felt like a fixture off the bench for this team. Then, the organization picked up her option. However, the minutes consistency is not there. This led to me posing the following question to head coach Stephanie White:
As an answer, this is mostly non-information. But given the quibbles one can make with it, there are places for Carrington to go, whether in Connecticut or elsewhere.
Answers Lead to More Questions
Stephanie White gave the appropriate level of coach speak when addressing this question while also providing a valid point. Connecticut reshaped its roster drastically over the offseason and brought in three new wing contributors: Tiffany Hayes, Ty Harris, and Rebecca Allen. This combined with the injury Carrington was dealing with in the winter months can contribute to a slower start to the season.
The issue arises when noticing that Carrington fits the current team more than two of those players. There is no issue with Hayes being in front of her. Hayes is shooting 41.4 percent on 4.1 long-distance attempts per game. She has an All-Star, go-to scorer ceiling that this team needs. Ty Harris and Bec Allen, however, are not the same.
Harris has been a guard with promise since being drafted seventh overall in 2020 by the Dallas Wings. Over three seasons in Dallas she averaged just 16.9 minutes per game, with the number actually going down year by year. Allen was brought in as a 3-point sniper who, through her first seven games, was shooting 31.3 percent on 2.3 attempts per game. If she is not bringing this, she does not bring much else to the court.
Carrington, on the other hand, brings a lot of what this team has come to embody. She currently plays with the highest pace on the team. As someone who contributes on both ends of the floor she has shown time and again that she thrives in the system built around Alyssa Thomas. But what could this look like elsewhere?
What She Could Bring to Another Team
Rebounding and Unselfishness
It was easy to get lost in the shuffle on this end given that she played with the likes of Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones, and Brionna Jones. That being said, Carrington was one of the best rebounding guards in the league last year. She boasted the sixth-highest rebounding rate among guards (9.2%) and was fourth in offensive rebounding rate (6.1%).
This is owed in large part to the fact that she never stops fighting. She uses her length and effort to outrebound anyone in her way. Even better, it rarely leads to her forcing up a bad putback. Carrington is a team player through and through. She is always looking for the cutter or open shooter before taking her own shots.
Energy like this is infectious and it endeared her to her teammates and coaching staff last year. Even with a new coach in place, this should still carry over. Carrington never stops being active and can score in a variety of ways. She can shoot and cut without requiring too high of a usage rate. This is invaluable for a team with four All-Star caliber players. Carrington came into the league wanting to win and play her role. If that shows on offense, it shines even brighter on the other end of the floor.
Defensive Activity
The activity being contagious is the name of the game for Carrington and she truly brings it on the defensive end. As one of the bigger wings on the team, Carrington is often tasked with being the point of attack and she immediately brings pressure often.
Picking up the Rookie of the Year as soon as she crosses the court is important here. The lead guard for Connecticut, Natisha Hiedeman, gives up six inches to Howard and does not have the length to fully bother her. While Carrington still gives up a little height, her effort is obvious. Turning offense into defense is a calling card and Carrington gets out in transition because of the effort she puts in.
Where From Here?
Usually, effort is what it takes to earn a coach’s trust, even more than statistical output. Perhaps it is only a matter of time (and healing from the offseason as White alluded to). Minutes for Carrington have crept over the last few games. If she is given the time, she is going to make an impact. For a team with such a high payroll, finding value in the margins is the way the roster gets taken over the top.
Carrington should be a part of this team’s future. If she is not, she will find a place in this league. Her nonstop effort and grit will not allow her to be left behind. You can bet on that.
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