LAS VEGAS โ NaLyssa Smith, a prominent forward, has been traded to the Las Vegas Aces from the Dallas Wings in exchange for a 2027 first-round draft pick.
This transaction, disclosed on Monday, concludes Smithโs brief and underwhelming stint with Dallas. Smith, originally from Texas and a Baylor alumnus, was recording career-low statistics in points, rebounds, and playing time during her tenure with the Wings. The team has shown signs of improvement recently, securing four victories in the last six games following a challenging start of 1-11.
Smith had made her way to the Wings following an offseason trade that moved her from the Indiana Fever. The 24-year-old was part of a significant squad revamp in Dallas, which included the high-profile selection of Paige Bueckers as the number one overall pick in the latest draft this April.
During her tenure with the Fever spanning three seasons, Smith consistently delivered double-figure scores and maintained an average of nearly eight rebounds per game. However, her performance saw a decline following Caitlin Clarkโs arrival at Indiana the previous season.
In this season, Smithโs playing time dropped below 20 minutes for the first time, settling at 19.1 minutes per game. Her current averages stand at 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. Chosen as the number two pick by Indiana in 2022, Smith earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie first team. Her impressive collegiate career at Baylor was highlighted by securing a national championship during her freshman year. Smith hails from San Antonio.
The Las Vegas Aces, reigning champions with consecutive WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023, are experiencing an unexpected early stumble this season. Their roster has seen significant changes after trading Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks and acquiring Jewell Loyd from Seattle in a massive six-team deal during the most recent offseason.
To accommodate this trade, the Wings opted to release Kaila Charles, who had joined the team through a hardship contract on June 17.