Carrington makes her case to earn a spot with Sun
Mohegan — The Connecticut Sun’s DiJonai Carrington didn’t attempt many 3-pointers during her rookie year last season but when she did, well...
“I think I shot somewhere in the teens (3-of-21, 14.3-percent),” Carrington laughed. “That’s really embarrassing.”
Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller talked to Carrington about improving that skill during exit interviews last season and she went to work on it. She made 2-of-3 threes off the bench and scored 12 during Connecticut’s 94-78 win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena in its one-and-only preseason game.
The Sun were overjoyed when Carrington was still available at No. 20 (second round) at last year’s draft. The 6-foot guard was both the 2020-21 Big 12 Sixth Woman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after transferred from Stanford to Baylor. She nearly led the latter past UConn in the Elite Eight as she scored a team-high 22 in 37 minutes off the bench along with seven rebounds.
Carrington averaged the third-fewest minutes (9.2) off the Sun bench last season.
“(Miller and I) talked about a lot of things that I needed to work on, first my shooting percentage from three,” Carrington said. “The second one was decision-making; making reads off pick and rolls and when I need to get downhill, when to slow down, when I can push it in transition.
“Discipline on defense (was another emphasis). ... One of the reasons (Connecticut) drafted me was they thought I could be a good defender. Last year, I think I gambled too much. I wasn’t in the right spots that I needed to be, I would take plays off, things like that.”
The Sun don’t need players who can shoulder the load because they have a strong core in wing DeWanna Bonner, forwards Brionna Jones (13 points, six rebounds vs. Atlanta), 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones (game-high 15 points) and Alyssa Thomas, and guards Jasmine Thomas (five assists) and Courtney Williams.
Guard Natisha Hiedeman also blossomed in her third year last season and was the first player off Connecticut's bench.
Miller is looking for players who can bring high-energy off the bench. Carrington did just that Sunday as she made 5 of 9 field goals in a team-high 22 minutes, 57 seconds. She also had six rebounds and three steals.
“Our second unit, the Natisha Hiedemans, the Nia Couldens, we’ve got some shooters,” Miller said. “DiJonai (needs) to really take that next step from the arc and (Sunday) was a good start for her.”
The Sun need to cut their roster down to 11 players this week because the regular season starts Friday. Connecticut opens at the New York Liberty on Saturday.
Clouden, who the Sun drafted 12th overall (first round) in last month’s draft, made two 3s and scored eight in 14:05.
Guard Yvonne Anderson, who is signed to a training camp contract, shot 3-of-5 from the floor for 11 points with four rebounds, three assists and three turnovers in 21:23.
Post Stephanie Jones averaged the fewest minutes for Connecticut last season (5.5 minutes in 18 games). She made 4 of her 5 field goals Sunday for 11 points in 12:30.
Bonner is the only player who hasn’t arrived in camp due to overseas commitments. She’s in Turkey playing for CBK Mersin, which has advanced to the Women's Basketball Super League semifinals. Game 1 of the best-of-three series is Monday and Game 2 is Wednesday.
n.griffen@theday.com
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