The Dallas Wings are having their worst season so far. They are currently sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 2-11 record. In this situation, head coach Chris Koclanes must be under immense pressure as he tries to determine the best course of action for the team.
Maybe his first big move was benching DiJonai Carrington, mostly because of her struggles on the court and concerns about team chemistry. However, it sparked backlash from the community. Now, Koclanes has finally broken his silence.
Chris Koclanes Breaks Down His Move That Benched Carrington and Gave Rookie a Look
The backlash mostly ignited during the June 17 game against the Golden State Valkyries. For the first time, we saw a new lineup featuring star rookie Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, NaLyssa Smith, Myisha Hines-Allen, and rookie Aziaha James. The only name missing from the list was veteran guard Carrington, and it was clear the 22-year-old rookie replaced her.
Naturally, this sparked widespread comparison between the veteran and the rookie. It triggered several questions from fans and sparked debate within the community. Many people were looking for an answer from the head coach. And finally, after the Wings’ win against the Valkyries, they got their answer.
Yes, you read that right. The Wings finally earned their second win of the season by defeating the Valkyries 80–71. The result justified the coach’s bold decision. Now Koclanes not only had the win to back up his move but also the opportunity to explain it. He addressed the decision during his postgame press conference with maturity and clarity.
He said, “Just conversations throughout with DiJonai, with our team… Felt it was the right time to make a change and give Aziaha (James) a look.” Many expected him to criticize the public for questioning his choices. But instead, his tone was respectful toward the community.
Wings’ Chris Koclanes on the decision to not start DiJonai Carrington tonight: “Conversations throughout with DiJonai, with our team… Felt it was the right time to make a change and give Aziaha (James) a look.”#WingsUp
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) June 18, 2025
Logically speaking, benching the veteran guard was a smart choice. In a recent game against the Las Vegas Aces, Carrington fouled out in the final five minutes, committing all six fouls. During that meltdown, she also yelled at Coach Koclanes for not challenging a foul call.
We’re only halfway through the season, and she’s already at a point where any single mistake could cost the team a huge penalty. So, making the change for the game against the Valkyries was a timely and professional decision by the coach. Now, it remains to be seen how long Carrington will remain on the bench.
