Dijonai Carrington is an American professional basketball player currently playing as a guard for the Dallas Wings in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Carrington comes from a family deeply rooted in athletics.
Her father, Darren Carrington Sr., had a successful career in the NFL, while her mother, Vickie Carrington, was a track athlete at Northern Arizona University.
Dijonai’s athletic lineage has played a significant role in shaping her journey to becoming a standout player in the WNBA.
Siblings
Dijonai has two siblings, an older brother named Darren Carrington Jr. and an older sister named Diarra Carrington, both of whom have also pursued athletic careers, continuing the family’s tradition of excellence in sports.
Darren played college football as a wide receiver. Darren began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon, where he played from 2014 to 2016.
During his time with the Oregon Ducks, he showcased his talent, recording notable performances on the field.
However, his career faced a setback in 2017 when he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after crashing into a McDonald’s drive-through.
This incident led to his transfer to the University of Utah for the 2017 season.
Diarra played college basketball as a point guard, beginning her career at Daytona State College.
She later transferred to the University of New Orleans, where she continued to develop her skills on the court.
Career
Carrington’s basketball journey began at Horizon Christian Academy in San Diego, where she excelled, averaging 18.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
Her high school performance earned her prestigious honors, including selections to the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic All-American team.
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After graduating, she committed to Stanford University, where she played from 2016 to 2020.
At Stanford, Carrington contributed to two Pac-12 Tournament championships (2017 and 2019) and earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2019.
Seeking a more prominent role, she transferred to Baylor University for the 2020-2021 season, where she averaged 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Carrington’s professional career began when she was selected as the 20th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun.
She quickly established herself as a valuable player, known for her defensive tenacity and scoring ability.
In 2024, she had a breakout season with the Sun, averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
On February 2, 2025, Carrington was traded to the Dallas Wings as part of a four-team trade, marking a new chapter in her professional career.
Beyond the WNBA, she also joined the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a 3×3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, further showcasing her versatility and commitment to the sport.
Accolades
Carrington’s career is marked by numerous accolades that highlight her skill, improvement, and impact on the game.
During her high school years, she was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2016, a Jordan Brand Classic All-American in 2016, and California State Freshman of the Year in 2013.
In college, she achieved significant success, including two Pac-12 Tournament championships in 2017 and 2019 with Stanford, and she was named to the All-Pac-12 Team by both coaches and media in 2019.
At Baylor, she earned the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Big 12 Sixth Woman of the Year titles in 2021. She also received Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2018 and 2019.
In her professional career, Carrington’s standout 2024 season with the Connecticut Sun saw her named the WNBA Most Improved Player and selected to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team.
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