Toronto’s Future Ballers: DiJonai Carrington could provide grit to Toronto’s WNBA team

In this series, we will go over some of the biggest names Toronto could pick from in the future WNBA expansion draft.

As the news sinks in that Toronto will soon welcome a WNBA team to the city, fans’ minds are racing thinking about everything from team names, to colours, to players the team could draft.

One exciting aspect to expanding the WNBA is the idea of expansion drafts. With that in mind, Raptors HQ is starting up a new series called “Toronto’s Future Ballers” — where we will break down the biggest names Toronto could scoop up when they do the expansion draft prior to the 2026 WNBA season.

Now, take these names with a grain of salt of course. Things could be really different in terms of rosters in a year and a half, and we aren’t sure who will still be playing in the league, who will retire, or who teams will opt to protect for themselves.

These are merely pondering, while introducing Toronto fans to potential names we could soon get to cheer on!

Let’s get into some housekeeping:

What is an Expansion Draft?

When a sports league expands to create a new team, that team is not expected to start from zero when it comes to building a roster. To make things fair, and even out the playing field, the league will hold an expansion draft.

Usually the way is goes is that the league will give existing teams a certain number of “protected spots.” Usually a handful or less, and these spots go to players the teams want to keep on their team. Once a player is protected, they cannot be drafted by the new expansion team.

Once those protected players are determined, the new teams will get to hold a draft to bring on players from every team in the WNBA. It’s like an automatic trade, except the new team does not have to give anything back in return for their new players. The benefit for the existing teams is that they get to choose who is protected from this process.

If there is more than one expansion team, the teams will take turns drafting from the pool of existing players.

Now, we aren’t 100% sure how it will work for the WNBA as we enter this new era of expansion. The league will go through this whole process in the upcoming offseason as the Golden State Valkyries are entering the league in the 2025 season. That whole process will give Toronto fans more of an idea of how many protected spots other teams will get, who will be available, and what it may look like.

For now, let’s just have some fun thinking about the possibilities!

DiJonai Carrington: Defensive Powerhouse

Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images

Toronto, meet DiJonai Carrington.

Carrington was drafted 20th overall in the 2021 WNBA draft to the Connecticut Sun. She spent the first four years of her college career at Stanford before using her fifth year of eligibility (granted to players because of COVID) to transfer to Baylor.

It’s pretty rare these days for a player drafted 20th overall to make their team’s roster as a rookie in the WNBA. With only 144 roster spots and only 12 current teams, PLUS the fact that some teams only keep 11 players due to salary cap restrictions — it’s tough to make a roster.

It’s more about fit with the team you get drafted to, and that team’s needs. The Connecticut Sun needed a tough defender and energy player, and Carrington gave them that.

Now in her fourth WNBA season, Carrington has moved up in the ranks. She now starts for the Sun, and even put on a show defending number one overall draft pick Caitlin Clark during the WNBA’s season opener. Her defence isn’t new though — Carrington had a similar assignment when she guarded Paige Bueckers during the freshman’s breakout first year of college.

Now stronger, faster, and acclimated to the defensive matchups in the WNBA, Carrington comes into the current season not as a boost of energy off the bench, but as an impactful core piece of the team. Her preparation has involved playing under stars like Dewanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, and more as the Connecticut Sun have been competitive every season she has been there.

Set to have a breakout season in 2024 and already in early talks for Most Improved Player consideration, Carrington will hopefully have a great season.

What Could Carrington Bring to Toronto?

We’ll start on the court: Carrington is a gritty player. She is one of the most elite defenders in the WNBA, and more than that, she is never afraid to get in on the action and put her body on the line.

In years past, DiJonai has been a burst of fiery energy off the bench for the Sun when they needed a boost. Now, and by the time Toronto comes into the league, she’s a starting level guard. She’ll take the toughest defensive assignment, and succeed. Plus, when all is said and done, her hair and makeup will still look perfect. Seriously girl, share the setting spray you use.

When it comes to team dynamic and building a culture for this new team, Carrington is a great person to have on the roster. Not only does she love fashion, but she just seems like a city girl, and would love the atmosphere of a Toronto summer. She’s tough, never backs down no matter what the assignment, and can get a bucket.

Toronto fans would quickly fall in love with her personality, sense of style, and grit on the court. We’ll see where time takes the Toronto WNBA team, but Carrington could be a great addition in the future.