With Paige Bueckers back on the roster, the Dallas Wings looked like they were finally returning to form in a recent game against the Las Vegas Aces. Despite sitting at the bottom of the standings, the Wings held a 13-point lead to open the third, with their rookie sensation firing on all cylinders. But then, just as has happened too often in 2025, things fell apart. This time, though, it’s just one player, DiJonai Carrington, who became the target of spectators.
While it was expected to be a one-sided game, it turned out to be a battle, as the Wings again folded in crunch time in an 88–84 loss to the Aces. Fair to consider here that Aces’ best player, A’ja Wilson, was not even playing. This marked Dallas’ seventh straight defeat and the worst start in franchise history at 1-11. But despite the loss, both Bueckers and Carrington had impressive individual moments. With just under four minutes left, Bueckers rose up for a smooth pull-up jumper, Carrington made her way to the rim, and Geiselsöder executed a sharp cut into the lane, delivering three straight clutch baskets that stretched Dallas’s lead to 82–71.
So, while it felt like the Wings had finally cracked the code, what followed was a total meltdown. The Aces closed the game on an explosive 17–2 run, capitalizing on repeated Dallas errors. So, what went wrong? Well, several things.
May 29, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates with guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) during the first half against the Chicago Sky at the Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
First, Bueckers turned the ball over twice. Then, Arike Ogunbowale made a series of questionable decisions, including a costly turnover and an offensive charge. But it was neither Bueckers nor Ogunbowale who received the bulk of the blame; it was Carrington. And there’s a reason behind that, too.
As Wings face collapse, DiJonai Carrington faces fan backlash!
As fans learned about the loss, they couldn’t help but flood the comment section with frustration. But as it turned out, there was just one player in the crosshairs. “Dijonai Carrington wtf, this loss is on her,” wrote one spectator. Well, it all came with the 2024 Most Improved Player of the Year committing a late foul that many argued should have been ruled a jump ball. It was that same foul that sent Jackie Young to the free-throw line, where she cut the lead to one. Just like that, the momentum vanished.
“A team led by Dijonai Thug Carrington never wins a game,” claimed another user. While the frustration began with that foul, it only escalated. The frustration reminded everyone of the controversial incidents that Carrington has been a part of this season. The way she pulled Sarah Ashlee Baker by her hair and her aggressive arm on Skylar Diggins did not sit well with anyone. Even Sonia Citron tweeted on X, saying that she cannot defend her anymore.
“Dijonai Carrington lost that game by herself with her panicky/indecisive turnover on the Wings’ potential game-tying possession. Just give the ball to Bueckers. Why try to pass across three people and force it to Arike Ogunbowale? Boneheaded choke,” added another user.
Carrington finished the game shooting 6-of-16 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range in 35 minutes. But the bigger concern was her stat line—fifteen points, four turnovers, and six personal fouls. So it makes sense why the criticism started to mount. “Dijonai Carrington must have set some kind of record—six fouls in the fourth quarter,” another fan wrote. What amped the frustration is that Carrington went charging out of control when it was not needed, when it was clear that she might end up squandering the lead. Some even took a particularly harsh dig, claiming that she was probably playing for the Aces.
Well, the harsh reality is that the Wings were handed a golden opportunity. With A’ja Wilson out, the Aces were vulnerable. Even after forcing nine straight turnovers and opening the second half on a 22–2 run, the Wings couldn’t close. Their inability to finish games has become their identity. So, one fan did not put the entire blame on Carrington, writing, “Dallas Wings defense is terrible”.
That’s fair, as the Wings put up a solid offensive performance, shooting 47.1% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, but it was their defense that crumbled. And one of the key issues for Dallas was their inability to defend without fouling. It’s because they committed 20 personal fouls compared to just 12 by the Aces. So, it’s no surprise the Wings came up short.
Anyway, the spotlight on Carrington is more than ever. Not because people expect someone with her skills to step up. With increased playing time and responsibility, her aggressive style has sparked controversy, further making her pretty unlikable among fans. So, they expect her to help in winning, at least.
The post Calls Mount Against DiJonai Carrington Despite Scoring Close to Paige Bueckers in Another Dallas Wings Heartbreak appeared first on EssentiallySports.
