Every player is successful for their own unique reasons. While most players rely on their game, some are a little superstitious. Amid athletes looking for the right reason for their success, the Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington looked for the right grounds for her improving performances which has given her team a ray of hope amid losing three out of their last four games. And one would be surprised to know that it isn’t jersey or a playing style that she has attributed her improved on-court performances to. Rather it is her nails.

Carrington was present during the postgame press conference after facing defeat against the Atlanta Dream on Friday. During the chat, she presented her point of view on what has enhanced her shooting skills.

DiJonai Carrington’s nail routine has refined her shooting skills

Carrington stated that it was her nail trimming that helped her achieve her results with shooting. She also joked that at times it was better not to concentrate on style statements and “be cute.” Her odd reason sent an echo of laughter throughout the auditorium.

“I mean, I know I can shoot the ball. I definitely obviously was in a slump. I probably made more threes the last two games than I had the whole season. But um, I kind of started my count over when I cut my nails. I told y’all that. So I think that was a couple weeks ago. So I’m…I’m probably shooting close to 50% since I’ve done that. So sometimes you gotta not try to be too cute,” Carrington said, via TJ Sports Queens.

Carrington is not much of a shooter from the arc. In most of the games she has played though she has attempted a few shots but mostly failed to convert them. However, in the previous four games, she has shot 50% three-pointers in two of them. Apart from not attempting any three-pointers in the game against Seattle Storm, Carrington shot 44.4% (4 out 9 against the Washington Mystics) on Thursday. Therefore, her shooting skills have improved over time. This has given the Sun a lot of hope and also ended Carrington’s streak of poor shooting display.

The Sun have lost three out of their last four games. Though they have a brilliant stat of 14-4, it still looks to be declining. While the Sun lost against the Las Vegas Aces last Friday, they were trumped by the Seattle Storm last Sunday. They then made a comeback against the Washington Mystics on Thursday winning the game in overtime, the Sun had to once again face defeat against the Atlanta Dream, which came as a shock for their fans.

DiJonai Carrington gives her best against the Atlanta Dream but in vain

Carrington performed decently well against the Atlanta Dream. She scored 15 points with 4 rebounds and 3 steals. She had 40% field goals and 50% three-pointers. Apart from that, Carrington had a cent percent free throw. Nonetheless, the Sun lost by a close margin of 78-74 against the Dream.

Giving a ray of hope, it is not only this game that she talked about her improved shooting. She had previously mentioned after the Sun had won the game against the Dallas Wings on June 15 that her ameliorated shooting skills after cutting her nails had helped her score 50% field goals.

Perhaps, every player wants to find the winning formula and Carrington seems to have gotten her own reasons. However, the Sun will be happier if this translates to them emerging victorious in more games. Til then, all Carrington needs to do is practice the gifts given to her.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.