In 2022, NaLyssa Smith joined the Indiana Fever as the second-overall pick in a draft that also featured Rhyne Howard, Shakira Austin, and Nyara Sabally. Over three seasons, Smith has put up solid numbers, averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for her career.
Nevertheless, she never quite managed to establish herself as a star on the Fever, and the arrival of Aliyah Boston and then Caitlin Clark pushed her further into the background. During the 2024 season, it became obvious that Smith was not the best fit next to the Fever’s All-Star duo of Clark and Boston.
So, it was not surprising to see the Fever trade Smith to the Wings this offseason. The Wings lost Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard this offseason, so Smith provides an important presence at the forward spot for them. For Smith, this is a chance to get a fresh start and prove her value. Plus, she will get to play with her girlfriend, DiJonai Carrington.
If Smith can take off with the Wings, it will make losing Sabally and Howard look much less bad. But, the Wings will soon make a realization that the Fever are already well aware of.
The Wings will learn a lot about NaLyssa Smith in the 2025 season
NaLyssa Smith is a talented player. Otherwise, she would not have been such a high draft pick. That much is clear and the Wings hope they can unlock that talent next to Arike Ogunbowale and whoever they end up selecting with the first overall pick in the 2025 draft.
At the same time, Smith has certain limitations that made it so difficult for the Fever to play her with Clark and Boston. For one, Smith is not a good 3-point shooter, averaging only 33 percent on two attempts per game for her career. That made it difficult to play her next to a big who also does not shoot threes.
The Wings are in a similar position. For the last two seasons, Teaira McCowan has been their starting center whenever she has been available. McCowan also does not shoot threes, but the Wings do not rely on her as much as the Fever do on Boston. Still, it is not an ideal fit.
Except for Myisha Hines-Allen none of the other forwards currently on the roster are proven 3-point shooters either. Luisa Geiselöder has been shooting it well with Basket Landes this season but still has to prove that she can do the same in the WNBA.
Without much spacing in the frontcourt, the Wings will have to find a way to create space for Arike Ogunbowale to do her thing and figure out what the Fever could not: how to best utilize Smith offensively.
On the other end of the floor, Smith is not as good as you would expect. Since the Fever were not a strong defensive team altogether, that stood out particularly last season. On the Wings, it might not be much different, even with DiJonai Carrington wreaking havoc on the perimeter.
The Wings have a lot to figure out in the 2025 season and, in the process, will learn that while Smith is a talented player, she is difficult to build around. However, if the Wings can figure out how best to utilize Smith, the payoff could be great.