NaLyssa Smith successfully turned around one of her biggest weaknesses with Aces

Despite getting selected second overall in 2022, NaLyssa Smith is already on her third team in five seasons. She started her career in Indiana, but once the Fever also drafted Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, Smith wasn’t a great fit for the Fever’s system anymore. Her lack of a consistent 3-point shot and defensive shortcomings didn’t make her the best fit next to Clark and Boston. So, the Fever traded Smith to Dallas ahead of the 2025 season. After just 18 games, Dallas traded Smith to Las Vegas. 

Smith may not have as big a role with the Aces as she did with the Fever and Wings, but she played a key part in the team’s late-season turnaround. Replacing Kiah Stokes, who never produced much offensively, with Smith worked out perfectly for the Aces. However, Smith’s impact isn’t just felt on one side of the court. 

After the Aces’ decisive 102-77 win over the Storm in their first playoff matchup of the season, A’ja Wilson praised Smith’s defense. “To know that someone’s going to be that second and third layer in action on defense for you—you never feel like you’re on an island,” Wilson said about playing with Smith. 

Becky Hammon also praised Smith’s defensive growth, saying, “She just keeps getting better and better at what we’re asking her to do.”

It seems, Smith’s standing as a defensive liability is a thing of the past. The on/off numbers back it up as well. Las Vegas’s defensive rating goes from 101.2 when she is off the court to 97.8 when she is on the court. 

Smith had a good playoff debut with the Aces

NaLyssa Smith played 25 minutes in her first playoff game with the Aces and finished the matchup with 11 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks. 

Offensively, Smith was a constant presence in the paint and got to the free-throw line six times. She played well off A’ja Wilson, taking what the defense gave her and not forcing any shots. 

Defensively, her impact was also felt. Smith played solid help defense and forced some difficult shots as well as bad passes. One of the highlights of the game was definitely a demonstrative block on Nneka Ogwumike. The Storm veteran got past Wilson, but Smith came over from the help side to protect the rim. 

Trading for Smith turned out to be a genius move

The Aces gave up a 2027 first-round pick to get Smith. 2027 is expected to be a talented draft and the Aces already gave up most of their first-round picks in the coming years. On paper, Smith also didn’t fit the Aces’ needs next to Wilson—a 3-point shooter who can play defense. The move was generally deemed an overpay or a desperate attempt by the Aces to turn things around. 

Months later, Smith looks like one of the most impactful in-season acquisitions of the year. Technically, Smith should have had plenty of opportunities to develop on young teams that could offer her a big role. It turns out that playing alongside championship veterans and for an experienced coach was what Smith actually needed to fuel winning basketball. 

Smith is one of three players on the Aces roster aged 25 or younger. After this season, she will be a restricted free agent, but given how vocal Smith has been about how much she enjoys playing with the Aces, they should be able to bring her back. That way, the Aces could have a great starting frontcourt locked down for years.