"Can’t believe she got passed on 19x": DiJonai Carrington stamped by coach after Wings GM Curt Miller’s bold claim

Modified Mar 28, 2025 12:38 GMT

Jan 17, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; DiJonai Carrington (21) of the Mist drives past Courtney Williams (10) of the Lunar Owls during the second half of the Unrivaled women’s professional 3v3 basketball league at Wayfair Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images - Source: Imagn — Jan 17, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; DiJonai Carrington (21) of the Mist drives past Courtney Williams (10) of the Lunar Owls during the second half of the Unrivaled women’s professional 3v3 basketball league at Wayfair Arena. Source: Imagn

On Thursday, former Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington received high praise from her former assistant coach, Nola Henry. The Rose BC coach shared her thoughts on the 27-year-old player after Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller made a bold statement about her.

Miller claimed that if Carrington were to be drafted today, she would be selected as the number one pick.

Henry reinforced this sentiment on her Instagram account when she posted a graphic that contained Miller's quote. The Wings GM said of Carrington:

"I would argue that if you redraft ... she would be the number 1 draft pick in 2021," he conveyed.

Nola Henry, who worked with Miller and Carrington during her tenure with the Connecticut Sun, further stamped her approval on Miller's statement. Resharing her former coach's quote on her story, the 29-year-old wrote:

"Can't believe she got passed on 19x."

Nola Henry replies to Dallas Wings GM's thoughts on DiJonai Carrington

DiJonai Carrington was drafted in the second round of the 2021 WNBA draft as the 20th overall pick. The former Baylor star had a slow start to her life in the WNBA and spent all her career with the Sun before being traded to the Wings in January. Her performances have also improved with time, and she was awarded the WNBA's Most Improved Player Award last season.

DiJonai Carrington shares her honest thoughts after donning the Dallas Wings jersey for the first time

After spending four years with the Connecticut Sun, DiJonai Carrington will suit up for the Dallas Wings. She was part of a four-team trade that included the Indiana Fever, the Phoenix Mercury, the Sun and the Wings.

Carrington will look to better her most improved season in Texas.

A member of the Mist BC during the inaugural season of the Unrivaled 3x3 women's league in Miami. Carrington was finally photographed in a Wings jersey after the conclusion of the league in March.

Posting a picture of her in new threads on Instagram, the former Stanford and Baylor guard gave her honest thoughts on donning a new jersey.

"not gonnnaaa yieeeee, it's sooooo crazy seeing myself in a different uniform but I'm sooooo ready, grateful, and blessed to enter this new chapter of life," she wrote.

DiJonai Carrington speaks on her new team on Instagram

Carrington will be joined in Dallas by her girlfriend NaLyssa Smith, who was traded to the team from the Indiana Fever during the same trade cycle.

About the author

Arian Kashyap is a basketball journalist at Sportskeeda with over two years of experience at Essentially Sports and Spice Bite and a Bachelor's in Physical Education and Sports Sciences.

Arian's favorite team is the Miami Heat and it’s mainly down to Dwyane Wade being his favorite player of all time. Arian loved how explosive Wade was as a player and he had all the attributes, whether that be shooting, defending or passing. Arian really liked how he won titles both with and without a dynasty behind him.

Arian has also worked with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools and was the manager for a Delhi-based women’s team called Garwhal Untied. Garwhal won the Delhi league and were runners-up during his tenure.

Arian has judged essay writing competitions for the Commonwealth Students Welfare Group of India in 2023 and was a part of the U-14 team for the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools academy that qualified for the AIFF Round in 2023.

When not working or watching sports, Arian likes riding his motorcycle and reading.

Know More

Edited by Krutik Jain