Diamond Miller embraces fresh start with Dallas Wings

The 24-year-old wing made her debut on Aug. 5 at Barclays Center, just 48 hours after being traded from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for DiJonai Carrington. Since then, she has appeared in three games for Dallas, totaling seven points, two rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes.

Her best showing came on Aug. 8 against the Liberty, when she scored seven points with a rebound, an assist, and a steal in 11 minutes. In her other two outings, she logged seven minutes with one rebound in her debut and two minutes with one assist against the Washington Mystics.

When asked about the whirlwind nature of her transition, Miller didn’t hesitate to describe the experience as a blur. After a season of limited playing time in Minnesota, she found herself packing, flying, and suiting up for a new team in just a matter of days.

“It’s been crazy,” she said after her first shootaround with the Wings. “Just a lot of traveling. This is my first time getting traded, so it was very new to me and how the process goes. But it moves very quickly, and I’m happy to be here now.”

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A clear vision for size and versatility

From the moment the deal was finalized, head coach Chris Koclanes saw Miller as a cornerstone of the post-trade rotation shift. He explained that her combination of size, athleticism, and pace could immediately reshape Dallas’ approach on the wing.

“Her size and athleticism, number one, but her speed up and down the floor too,” Koclanes said. “She plays downhill, puts pressure on the rim and the paint. If we can create the right space, she’ll find opportunities to attack closeouts and get to the rim. That’d be great.”

Koclanes also views Miller as a tactical asset who can defend multiple positions while fitting into both big-wing and small-ball combinations. Through 28 games this season, Miller is averaging 3.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 9.4 minutes while shooting 46.5% from the field, 51.9% from three-point range, and 82.9% at the free-throw line.

“We can have some big wings out there with our smaller fours, and you can look at some switching lineups,” he said. “I like the speed we should be able to generate—playing up and down, playing faster and freer.”

Her arrival has already drawn excitement from teammates. Maddy Siegrist noted the two-way value Miller brings, while Haley Jones pointed to her ability to impact every area of the game.

“I think she’ll bring a lot of versatility to our team, defensively and offensively,” Siegrist said. Jones added, “She can score from all three levels. She’s a really physical defender, too. We’re excited to have her and to have her do a lot of different things.”

A long-term play

General manager Curt Miller emphasized that the trade was about more than plugging an immediate gap, framing it as a move that fit both the Wings’ present needs and long-term vision. The Wings view Diamond Miller as a legitimate option to grow into a cornerstone piece to help as a high-value asset for seasons to come.

“She has another year on her rookie contract,” he said. “If the framework of free agency stays the same coming out of the new CBA, then she’ll become a restricted free agent, which we would also have control over. So you’re looking at acquiring a player that not only do you have for this year’s runway, but you potentially have a minimum of two more years.”

Since 2023, when she was drafted by the Lynx out of Maryland, Miller has averaged 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 16.2 minutes per game. She’s shot 39.8% from the floor and 32.5% from deep.

On the other side of the ball, Curt Miller pointed to her 6-foot-3 frame and defensive presence as critical additions, especially for a team that has spent much of the season undersized against the league’s elite wing scorers. In his view, her combination of length, mobility, and physicality addresses one of Dallas’ most glaring matchup challenges while also adding a multi-level scoring threat.

“In this stretch where we played New York three times in a short window, it magnified just how big they are with Leonie at the three,” he said. “We realized we’ve been playing a little undersized in a lot of positions all year, so her size is intriguing. Her athleticism is intriguing. She scores at different levels and brings a presence to the defensive end that we were losing with DiJonai going out the door.”

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Curt Miller also saw her physical presence immediately shift the tone in the Wings’ loss against the New York Liberty, noting that her toughness on both ends brought a noticeable change in momentum after a difficult opening stretch. He pointed out that when Miller checked in alongside Myisha Hines-Allen and Grace Berger, the group’s energy level and physicality visibly disrupted New York’s rhythm and set a more aggressive tone for Dallas.

“Her physicality was important,” he said. “I think you saw it on display last night — Myisha, Grace Berger, and Diamond changed that flow of a difficult first quarter with their physicality. The game changed. Diamond will have a shot here.”

Early adjustment for Miller

Up until Aug. 7, Miller had only been able to learn Dallas’ system in game-speed situations. Her first full practice at College Park Center was a chance to slow things down, absorb terminology, and build chemistry.

“Today was so much better just because their concepts and terminology are much different from where I was at,” she said. “Adjusting to the different terminology and the playing style is so different. I’m figuring out how I fit and where my spots are.”

For Koclanes, the goal was to give her a clear foundation, ensuring she could acclimate to Dallas’ terminology, schemes, and spacing concepts without the pressure of immediate game situations. He viewed her first full practice as a chance to slow things down, focus on fundamentals, and build comfort with the teammates and system she’ll be counted on to help elevate.

“Just getting her more comfortable with her teammates and with our terminology and schemes defensively,” he said. “Offensively, the spacing and the actions we like to play out.”

Aug 8, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings forward Diamond Miller (1) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty at College Park Center. Photo Credit: Jerome Miron | Imagn Images

Myisha Hines-Allen, who played with Miller briefly in Minnesota last season, said she’s already seen leadership traits emerge, even though Miller is still new to the locker room. Hines-Allen noted that Miller hasn’t hesitated to speak up during practices or games, sharing observations and suggestions that reflect her experience coming from a winning culture.

“I think the biggest thing just from today is she has a voice,” Hines-Allen said. “She’s coming from a winning culture, so she has a voice. Little things that she sees — just making her feel comfortable enough to speak up. People listen. Allowing her to use her voice and give us her knowledge — because she has some great thoughts that make sense — can help us in the long run too.”

Paige Bueckers, on the other hand, has quickly recognized Miller’s two-way versatility. Even in limited game action, her impact on both ends of the floor is easy to see. From defensive switches to offensive cuts, Bueckers said it’s clear Miller has the tools to influence games in multiple ways.

“Her versatility on both ends of the floor,” Bueckers said. “She can guard one through four, pressure the ball, and get steals. Offensively, she can slash, cut, and get out in transition. She can do a little bit of everything.”

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For Miller, the shift to a young, fast roster has been energizing, offering a stark contrast to her role on a veteran-heavy Minnesota team. She views Dallas as a place where she can grow alongside players who are also in the early stages of their careers, learning together while playing an up-tempo style that suits her athleticism and versatility.

“I think it’s fun because I’m so young,” she said. “I’m only in my third year, and I’ve been through a couple of injuries, so getting to learn through playing is something I need as well. It’s good for me.”

Playoff mentality

Even in her first week, Miller has tied her role to the team’s bigger ambitions, viewing her arrival as more than just a midseason adjustment. She sees her presence in Dallas as an opportunity to help push the Wings toward their playoff goals while also contributing to the cultural and structural growth of the roster. From her perspective, these final games are not only about chasing wins but also about establishing habits, addressing areas that need improvement, and building a foundation for long-term success.

“We’re preparing to be in the playoffs, so this is another example to help us when you’re in a series,” she said ahead of the Aug. 8 game against the Liberty. “It’s going to be a very important game, and we’re excited for tomorrow.”

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Hines-Allen said those words capture exactly what Dallas needs, especially coming from a player who has only been with the team for a short time but already speaks with a long-term, big-picture focus. She believes Miller’s approach reflects the urgency and mindset required for a group still fighting to secure its spot in the postseason.

“When you talk playoffs, you’re already locked in on the bigger picture,” she said. “It’s about bringing that urgency now, not waiting until later.”

Miller said the team is intent on finishing strong, emphasizing that the group has already taken steps to refocus and align on its identity. She pointed to recent team discussions as a sign that everyone is committed to tightening details and executing at a higher level in the season’s closing stretch.

“We had a good team meeting today to get the fundamentals of what the team is and what we see in Wings basketball,” she said after her first practice. “That was very helpful, and we’re tightening it up to have a good stretch in these last couple of games where we want to make the playoffs.”

Drawing on her experience from a championship-contending roster in Minnesota, Miller said she is approaching her role in Dallas with an eye toward both immediate impact and long-term improvement.

“I definitely learned a lot,” Miller said. “There are certain things here that probably need changing, so just bringing some of the things I’ve witnessed over the last three years will definitely help, I think.”

She didn’t shy away from noting that she has already seen differences in approach.

“I’m not going to say, but I have definitely noticed some differences,” Miller said. “I point them out when I see them, and I’ll say I’m not used to doing things that way. Hopefully, over time, we can work together to find a happy medium.”

Miller’s next chance to adjust to the Wings will take place on Tuesday when the team faces the Indiana Fever on the road.