When the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, NaLyssa Smith, landed with the Indiana Fever, she wasted no time showcasing her star potential. She averaged a commanding 13.5 points and 7.9 rebounds (2022), and asserted herself as one of the league’s most promising young forwards even in her first season. Her blend of size, skill, and hustle turned heads across the league. So, the Dallas Wings didn’t hesitate when her name popped up during a blockbuster four-team trade in early 2025. They placed their bet on her ability to elevate the frontcourt and energize a rebuilding roster, until minds changed.
After spending her initial three seasons with the Fever, Smith, too, was ready for an upgrade. “Just be better than I was last year. You know, do everything two times better,” Smith said. “Rebound better, score a lot harder, play better defence. Just be what my team needs me to be.” However, NaLyssa Smith failed to create the kind of impact that the Wings have been looking for. Especially in the defense department.
Seated at the second-to-last spot in the regular rankings so far, the Dallas Wings have tried everything to claw back this season with the inclusion of Paige Bueckers. So, it was no surprise when the team dived headfirst into a deal with the Las Vegas Aces. The official Dallas Wings account broke the news on X (former Twitter) with a caption that read, “OFFICIAL: The Dallas Wings have traded forward NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for Vegas’ 2027 1st Round pick. In order to complete the trade, Kaila Charles has been released from her hardship contract.”
OFFICIAL: The Dallas Wings have traded forward NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for Vegas’ 2027 1st Round pick.
In order to complete the trade, Kaila Charles has been released from her hardship contract. pic.twitter.com/ZpjHkOasBQ
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) June 30, 2025
While Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsode’s return from the EuroBasket triggered Kaila Charles’ exit from the roster, the recent development surrounding Smith sent shockwaves across the league. In fact, even Smith’s heart skipped a beat when she was first informed. The forward athlete took to X and said her final goodbyes with, “sick to my stomach dawg, never seen this coming but.. I love you, Dallas Nation, thank you 4 everything.“
Instead of taking the reins as a front-court athlete and being a “better” performer, Smith went back on her promise. Needless to say, the Baylor alum only managed an average of 6.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists this season. While Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers handled the backcourt with elan, NaLyssa Smith largely struggled to keep up with the defenses. Despite her rebounding prowess and flashes of brilliance during her initial seasons in the pros, the athlete’s unimpressive performance made her an obvious choice for the waiver off.
Having said that, the Wings had tactfully lured Smith into the roster in hopes that Carrington would follow.”We knew if we could get NaLysaa Smith in a trade, that even more could get Dijonai Carrington through free agency, too. So, it all worked out. But a lot of work went into that night,” Miller had confessed during a post-game interview. Therefore, it was easier to part ways with the forward athlete when they had the right opportunity to do so.
NaLyssa Smith’s trade to impact her personal relationship
After the news of NaLyssa Smith’s mid-season trade made noise across the league, DiJonai Carrington was the first one to reach out on social media. The Dallas Wings athlete was upset for her girlfriend. Carrington took to social media and shared pictures of the couple with a caption that denoted a mending heart and infinity.
The pictures show intimate moments between Smith and Carrington, both on and off the court. The two shared the same team after their time at the Baylor Bears. The couple has been dating since their college days. But this latest deal marks the second time in the past six months that Smith has been traded. First, from the Indiana Fever. Now from the Dallas Wings.
X images
Moreover, Smith penned a heartfelt note for Carrington on X, “I love you wifeyyyy take care of tha kidsss.” While the couple does not have biological children of their own, yet, they own a pair of fur babies, Mr.3 and Mr.7, whom the couple has raised together. Needless to say, the pampered brats have become a mascot of the couple on social media, garnering a fan following of their own.
With Smith moving, she will not only feature alongside reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young but will also gain a fresh start with one of the top-ranked teams in the Western Conference division. Moreover, she will get a chance to rekindle her early promise of delivering a stronger performance on the hardwood. And who knows, Smith might get a chance to perform in the playoffs- a qualifying stage that is still too far for the Wings.
With head coach Becky Hammon’s system welcoming the two-way front-court player with open arms, can NaLyssa Smith provide the much-needed front-court depth? As the rebounding star adjusts to her new reality, fans hope to see her become a standout for the Las Vegas Aces.
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