NaLyssa Smith’s young WNBA career has been full of ups and downs. The Fever drafted her with the second pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, but she never truly emerged as one of the team’s centerpieces and was traded to the Dallas Wings ahead of the 2025 season. Things with the Wings didn’t work out either, leading to another trade that sent Smith to the Las Vegas Aces for a first-round pick.
With the Aces, Smith proved a lot of her doubters wrong. She was deemed a bad fit next to Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston because of her defensive shortcomings and lack of a 3-point shot. None of that was much of a problem with the Aces. Smith provided important offense and rebounding next to A’ja Wilson and played much better defensively. While her production went down—an expected development considering that she went from a young star to a role player on a star-studded veteran team—Smith was an integral part of the Aces’ championship run.
Coming to Las Vegas was a chance for Smith to change the narrative around her, play alongside some of the top players in the league, and compete for a championship. It was also a wholesome full-circle moment for the 25-year-old. Smith’s connection to Becky Hammon goes way beyond the games she played in an Aces uniform.
During her exit interview, Smith told reporters, “I used to see Becky play for the Silver Stars and I used to always go to those games. It’s just a full circle moment. I would never have thought I would have played for her like a day of my life.”
NaLyssa Smith and Becky Hammon spent a lot of time in San Antonio
Smith grew up in San Antonio, the same city in which Becky Hammon spent most of her WNBA career. Hammon played for the San Antonio Stars from 2007 to 2014. During that time, she was named to several All-Star and All-WNBA teams and led the league in assists in 2007. In her early years with the Silver Stars, Hammon was named to All-WNBA teams next to big-time stars like Lauren Jackson, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, and Cappie Pondexter.
Hammon joined the Silver Stars just a few years after the team had moved to San Antonio. The franchise was originally located in Salt Lake City and known as the Utah Starzz. It was one of the WNBA’s first eight franchises. In 2003, the team was moved to San Antonio and became the Silver Stars. In 2018, it became the Las Vegas Aces. So, Smith isn’t only playing for one of the players she used to watch growing up, but she also won a championship with her.