With the Connecticut Sun being the best team in the league, it’s fitting to give love to their best players in All-Star voting. And since the team is first in defensive rating and opponent points per game, why not devote one of those precious backcourt votes to an early candidate for both the Most Improved and Defensive Player of the Year awards? DiJonai Carrington.
The 26-year-old put the league on notice on opening day, playing lockdown defense on Caitlin Clark, forcing the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft to miss shots and commit turnovers, spoiling her WNBA debut in the process. During the rematch between the two teams, Carrington again played elite defense, but was also able to score 22 points on Clark, making use of her athleticism and strength.
After her team beat the Washington Mystics in the second contest of the season, Carrington explained in a simple and humble way how she became so good on the defensive end:
I had to figure out a way to get on the court and the way I figured out to get on the court was to be a lockdown defender. I was with Briann January, Jasmine Thomas, Alyssa Thomas, three of the all-time best defenders in WNBA history … If you want to play, you’ll find a way to get on the…
