Sun guard DiJonai Carrington showcased her clutch gene in the closing minutes of Connecticut's thrilling 94-91 win over the Mystics , single handedly outscoring Washington in overtime and recording her team’s final 10 points of the game.
The Sun got off to a slow start on Wednesday, trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half. But Carrington flipped a switch in the fourth quarter, imposing her will at both ends of the court en route to finishing the night with 22 points, four rebounds, two steals and four 3-pointers.
With 24 seconds remaining in regulation, Carrington drove in along the baseline and banked home a contested layup to even the score at 82 and force overtime. Halfway through the added quarter, the 26-year-old drilled a wide-open 3-pointer and stole the ball from Mystics guard Ariel Atkins on the ensuing possession, leading to a fastbreak layup at the other end.
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In the final minute of the contest, Carrington connected on another shot from behind the arc, increasing the Sun’s lead to four points, 92-88. She subsequently sank two free throws to bring her total in overtime to 10 points - narrowly beating out the nine points that the entire Mystics team managed to score in OT.
Wednesday’s strong performance continues what’s been a breakout season for Carrington. Through 17 games this year, she’s averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and one steal - all career-highs.
The Sun exercised Carrington’s fourth-year contract option ahead of the 2023 season, ensuring her a spot on the team’s roster for the next two years. But it wasn’t until this season that she was given a full-time starting role.
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“She's ready for the challenge,” Sun head coach Stephanie White said of Carrington earlier this year, per the Connecticut Insider . “I mean, this was an opportunity for her. She knew it was an opportunity for her coming into to the starting lineup and she's taken it.
“Some players just wait for the opportunity, and then they think it's going to be theirs and they don't just take it. She's taken it and she's taken ownership of it.”
As the No. 8 pick in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft, Carrington faced an uphill climb to become an everyday player in the league. But the Baylor-product has proven that she’s more than capable of excelling under the brightest lights.
“I'm just focused on having a consistent role and playing my game,” she said. “I think there's so much in my bag that hasn't been shown yet.”
Carrington attributes much of her success to the trust that the Sun have shown in her over the years. “Every team in the draft passed up on me, except Connecticut,” she added. “So, I knew that from [the] jump they see something in me because to make the team as a rookie, and then continue to make it being a late second rounder isn't normal.”
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