Minnesota Lynx guard DiJonai Carrington has been ruled out of the Lynx’s first semi-finals game against the Phoenix Mercury, the team announced in Saturday’s injury report.
Carrington appeared to hurt her foot in Wednesday’s decisive Game 2 against the Golden State Valkyries, and she checked out of the game with a few minutes to play. That came after a stellar fourth quarter in which she hit both of her three-point attempts and helped keep Valkyries guard Veronica Burton scoreless.
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Carrington was reportedly using crutches at a press conference on Friday, and no further information was provided about what Carrington’s exact injury was.
In 12 regular-season games with the Lynx this season, Carrington has averaged 8.6 points, shooting 48.5% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc. She scored 11 points in 14 minutes in Wednesday’s 75-74 win over Golden State.
Without Carrington, the Lynx have less depth coming off the bench, though two Lynx players — Natisha Hiedeman and Jessica Shepard — earned Sixth Player of the Year votes.
Still, there’s no shortage of talent on a Lynx roster headlined by All-Stars Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams. Alanna Smith is fresh off a Co-Defensive Player of the Year award (tied with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson) and Bridget Carleton.
The Lynx host the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday at 5pm ET for Game 1 of a five-game semi-finals series. Whether Carrington will return at some point this postseason remains to be seen.
