DiJonai Carrington Injury Update: Lynx star guard faces major setback ahead of Game 1 against Mercury in WNBA semifinals

Minnesota Lynx star DiJonai Carrington will reportedly miss the rest of the 2025 season due to a "significant mid-foot sprain." The team first announced on Saturday that Carrington is out for the team's semifinals opener on Sunday. However, a later announcement confirmed that Carrington will sit out the rest of the season.

Minnesota is set to host the Phoenix Mercury at Target Center in Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series on Sunday. According to the team's press release, the defensive guard sustained the left foot injury in the Lynx's series-clinching win over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday.

Kendra Andrews

@kendra__andrews

DiJonai Carrington will not play in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals due to a left foot injury, the Lynx say. She appeared to have injured it in Game 3 vs. the Valkyries and was seen on crutches at Alanna Smith’s press conference a few days ago.

ESPN's Kendra Andrews reported that the Lynx guard was on crutches during an appearance at teammate Alanna Smith's media conference. The WNBA announced Smith as the co-Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, and had a press conference the following day.

The Lynx said that Carrington underwent an MRI and was evaluated by team physician Dr. Elena Jelsing at Mayo Clinic Square. Per the team, updates on Carrington's "significant mid-foot sprain" will be shared when available.

Underdog WNBA

@UnderdogWNBA

DiJonai Carrington (foot) to miss rest of season.

Minnesota acquired Carrington via a mid-season trade with the Dallas Wings. In the deal, the Lynx sent Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson and a second-round pick for the defensive guard.

She played 11 regular-season games with the Lynx, averaging 8.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on 48.5% shooting, including 45.5% from 3-point range. However, the 2024 Most Improved Player missed a chunk of the regular season due to injury. She missed the final four games due to a shoulder injury but returned in time for the playoffs.

Will DiJonai Carrington's injury affect top-seed Minnesota's playoff run?

DiJonai Carrington has been a key cog of the top-seed Minnesota Lynx's bench unit. While Carrington has played just 13 games overall in a Lynx uniform, she has been impactful off the bench, and Minnesota needs her.

Carrington played 14 minutes off the bench in Game 2 of the Lynx's first-round series against the Golden State Valkyries. She scored 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, including 2-for-5 from 3-point range, in the 75-74 victory. She was also among the four Lynx players in double figures.

Further, Carrington was part of Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve's short eight-player rotation in the playoffs. Minnesota could have used Carrington as another defensive guard to throw against the fourth-seed Phoenix Mercury. Phoenix is led by MVP candidate and triple-double machine Alyssa Thomas, three-time All-Star Satou Sabally and former WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper.

Minnesota has a deep roster, and it was shown throughout the course of the regular season. The Lynx secured the top seed and home-court advantage in the playoffs despite MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier missing 11 games due to injury.