Dallas Wings Continue Retooling the Roster, Trade DiJonai Carrington to Minnesota Lynx
Wings add Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 draft pick as Curt Miller continues to reshape the roster.
The Dallas Wings traded DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson and a 2027 second-round pick. To complete the transaction, the Wings waived Teaira McCowan.
The trade is the latest move by General Manager Curt Miller, who is in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild. The roster now features only two returning players from the 2024 season, Arike Ogunbowale and Maddy Siegrist. With the addition of All-Star rookie Paige Bueckers, Miller is clearly focused on reshaping the roster around the young centerpiece. Every transaction has reflected a long-term vision in collecting draft capital and acquiring players who fit and align more with Bueckers’ timeline.
Looking ahead to next season, the Wings have five players currently under contract: Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly, Maddy Siegrist, and newly acquired Diamond Miller. They also hold reserved rights to Luisa Geiselsöder, Li Yueru, Haley Jones, Awak Kuier, and Lou Lopez-Sénéchal, giving them additional flexibility with young talent even if one or two are picked in the expansion draft with Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. Meanwhile, key veterans Arike Ogunbowale, Myisha Hines-Allen, Ty Harris, and Karlie Samuelson are all on expiring contracts. With a clean cap sheet, only a handful of guaranteed salaries and a projected top three pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Miller and the Wings front office are well-positioned to reshape the roster around.
Diamond Miller was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, brings much needed length on the perimeter, versatility, and floor spacing to the Wings. The forward was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2023 and finished her first season averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and second in 2.5 assists. While her role and minutes has shifted the past two seasons and minutes, Miller is averaging 4.1 points per game across 25 appearances this season. Wings will take a flyer on Miller’s upside to see if the potential remains on both ends of the floor in a different system allowing her more offensive freedom.
Karlie Samuelson has been limited to 16 games this season due to foot surgery, Samuelson holds career averages of 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds over 121 games, with strong shooting splits of .411 from the field and .392 from deep.
DiJonai Carrington appeared in 20 games this season, starting 13, and posted averages of 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. While her physicality and defensive tenacity were assets, her departure reflects the Wings’ shift toward perimeter shooting and long-term upside.
The team also waived center Teaira McCowan to make room on the roster for the trade. McCowan, acquired from Indiana in 2022, leaves Dallas with franchise marks in rebounding and efficiency. Her 896 boards rank sixth in franchise history, and her .570 field goal percentage is the best ever by a Wings player. The former No. 3 overall pick has averaged double-digit scoring and at least 7.0 rebounds in six of her first seven seasons but saw a diminished role this year, averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds across 17 games.
McCowan’s departure also signals a shift in the type of front court players the Wings are targeting in this new era. While McCowan has been a presence in the paint throughout her career, her traditional back-to-the-basket style doesn’t align with the modern bigs who can space the floor that Dallas is now prioritizing in their up-tempo system.
As the Wings continue to retool, this trade shows a continued commitment to finding and building a core around Bueckers, which leads toward long-term contention.