NaLyssa Smith

NaLyssa Smith: A Brief Biography

NaLyssa Smith is a power forward for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. Smith started playing basketball in high school at East Central High School where she was a brilliant player scoring an average of 23.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game as a senior as per her USAB page. Her high school performance made her to be ranked a five-star recruit and the 13th-best recruit by ESPN. Smith decided to further her college basketball at Baylor University where she also performed well. While studying at Baylor, she became the NCAA Division I Champion in 2019 and was awarded the Wade Trophy in 2021.

Smith was selected second overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft and has been a force to reckon with in the league. In her first year, she played in all 32 games as a starter and scored 13.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, which got her selected to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

NaLyssa Smith Early Life

NaLyssa Smith was born on the 8th of August 2000 in San Antonio, Texas. Being born and raised in a sports family, she was initiated into basketball from her early childhood. Her father Rodney Smith was a professional basketball player who played in different leagues in different countries such as Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines, as per USAB. This early exposure to the sport, therefore, together with the influence of her father, was instrumental in the moulding of her basketball career.

Smith was in the East Central High School in San Antonio and she was among the talented players in the school. In her last year, she was able to score an average of 23.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. Her performance on the court was solid and she was awarded as a five-star recruit and the 13th best recruit in the country according to ESPN.

NaLyssa Smith Personal Life

NaLyssa Smith is in a relationship with fellow WNBA player DiJonai Carrington. The two love birds started dating in 2020 but they only went public with their relationship in 2022. Smith and Carrington were both college basketball players at Baylor University. Smith occasionally posts updates about her life with Carrington on social media, where they support each other’s accomplishments.

NaLyssa Smith Family Background

NaLyssa Smith’s father, Rodney Smith played college basketball at the University of Texas at San Antonio. This athletic background provided NaLyssa with a strong foundation and inspiration to pursue her own basketball career.

Her mother, Nikki Owens Smith, was an ex-model and is currently active on Instagram. NaLyssa also has a brother named De’An Smith, who played soccer at the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and previously at the University of Houston-Victoria. De’An is now involved in media and social media activities, showcasing his passion for horse riding and other interests

NaLyssa Smith girlfriend

NaLyssa Smith is dating her fellow WNBA player DiJonai Carrington. Carrington, who plays for the Connecticut Sun as a shooting guard, has been an important figure in Smith’s life, not only in basketball. The two love birds started dating in 2020 when they were both playing for Baylor University. They have been able to maintain a healthy and supportive relationship even with their working schedules and they have been documenting their journey and achievements on social media.

Carrington was born on January 8, 1998, in San Diego, California, and she also has had a great basketball career herself. She played for Stanford University before joining Baylor University and she was equally brilliant there. In the WNBA, Carrington has been awarded for her talent and flexibility including the Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year.

NaLyssa Smith Social Media

NaLyssa Smith is seen fairly often on social media posting about her upcoming games or highlights of previous games. She also likes to show off her broad fashion sense from time to time along with her important life updates. Her Instagram account has the handle @nalyssasmith. She also has an X account with the username @NaLyssaSmith.

NaLyssa Smith Brand Ambassador

In May 2022, NaLyssa Smith joined the PUMA as a brand ambassador of the global sports company. Smith said that she was thrilled to be a part of the PUMA Hoops family, noting that the brand is committed to merging sport with fashion innovation, as per the official PUMA page.

In her role as a PUMA brand ambassador, Smith is involved in different campaigns and products especially those that are associated with the ‘SHE MOVES US’ initiative.

NaLyssa Smith Career Stats

In 2022, NaLyssa Smith scored 13.5 points and grabbed 7.9 rebounds per game as a rookie and was selected to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. Her best game was against the New York Liberty where she managed to score 22 points and 11 rebounds which proved that she is a future prospect, as per ESPN. She also showed her scoring prowess in the match against the Phoenix Mercury on June 15, 2023, by scoring 30 points and making 15 rebounds which is the record for her. Her performance was dominant in the match which led to the victory of the Fever and also showcased her capacity to dominate games.

NaLyssa Smith has been a steady player for the Fever throughout her career, especially during the 2024 season. She played for the team in a match against the Dallas Wings on September 1, 2024, where she scored 14 points, collected 8 rebounds, and made 3 blocks to ensure her team won the match 100-93, according to ESPN.

NaLyssa Smith Achievements

Mentioned below are some of her most commendable achievements throughout her career:

NCAA Division I Championship (2019)

NaLyssa Smith was instrumental in Baylor University’s success in the NCAA Division I Championship in 2019. She played a very crucial role in the tournament and ensured that her team clinched the title through her performance during the tournament and especially during the final matches.

Wade Trophy Winner (2021)

In 2021, Smith received the prestigious Wade Trophy for the best player in women’s college basketball. This award honoured her for her performance, leadership, and contribution to the team while she was at Baylor University.

WNBA All-Rookie Team (2022)

Smith’s rookie season in the WNBA was a successful one as she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2022. In her rookie season, she scored 13.5 points and collected 7.9 rebounds per game, proving that she can play at the highest level and helping the Indiana Fever.

Career-High Performance (2023)

Smith set her new personal best of 30 points and 15 rebounds on June 15, 2023, in a match against Phoenix Mercury. This outstanding performance showcased her scoring prowess and her prowess on the glass which further cemented her status as one of the up-and-coming stars in the league.

Consistent Contributor

Smith has been a constant player for the Indiana Fever team since joining the team in her career. She has been able to give good performances in the games consistently and this has made her an important player for her team. Her performance indicators, such as average points of 13.3 and average rebounds of 8.2 as of the 2024 season, prove her stability and skill.

PUMA Brand Ambassador (2022)

Apart from her performance on the tennis court, Smith signed a deal to become a PUMA brand ambassador in 2022, where she is part of the ‘SHE MOVES US’ campaign, inspiring young girls all over the world.

Athletes Unlimited League Champion

She won the new Athletes Unlimited League in 2023, which is a new concept of a women’s league in the United States, where winning depends on individual performance and the profits are shared by partaking athletes.

Katrina McClain Award

NaLyssa Smith won the Katrina McClain Award in 2021, which is given to the best Power Forward in the NCAA tournament.

First-team All-American

NaLyssa Smith was selected in the First-team All-American team twice by the Associated Press as well as the USBWA in 2021 and 2022, following her great college performances. She was also part of the Second-team All-American team, selected by the USBWA in 2021.

Big 12 Player of the Year

NaLyssa Smith was also selected as the Big 12 Player of the Year twice in 2021 and 2022 and was also the Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2021. She has received 3 First-team Big 12 nominations in her career from 2020 to 2022.

McDonald’s All-American

NaLyssa Smith was also a McDonald’s All-American, nominated for the same in 2018, following a solid high school player, marking her as one of the best high school players in the country.

NaLyssa Smith contract

NaLyssa Smith is on a $226,668 deal with the Indiana Fever, which is also her rookie deal that she signed in 2022. This contract includes an average annual salary of $75,556 and will be valid till 2025. In 2024, Smith will earn a base salary of $80,943 while carrying a cap hit of $80,943.