Who is Alanna Smith? A closer look at Australia's power forward's career and more

Australia's women's basketball team forward Alanna Smith has been making quite the buzz after her stunning performances at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She has been a star in the WNBA and has played for multiple teams in her career. Smith is signed to the Minnesota Lynx and is coming off a great season for one of the favorites to win the WNBA championship.

She averaged 11.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Lynx before the Olympics break. Alanna Smith played collegiate basketball for Stanford University in California. She was a part of the Stanford Cardinals basketball team and made the All-Pac-12 twice in her collegiate career.

However, her journey as a professional baller started in 2019 when the Phoenix Mercury drafted her as the eighth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft. She stayed in Phoenix for three years and moved to the Indiana Fever. After playing for the Fever for a year, she moved to the Chicago Sky. She earned a reputation with her performances in Chicago but was traded to Minnesota this year.

Since arriving in Minnesota, Alanna Smith has become a regular starter for the four-time WNBA champions. Along with the likes of Lynx ace Napheesa Collier, she helped the franchise to their fifth WNBA championship.

Alanna Smith and Opals create history after making the Semi-Finals for the first time in 12 years

The Australian women's basketball team, popularly known as the Opals, made history after defeating Serbia in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics women's tournament. The Aussies outclassed the Serbians to secure an 85-67 victory. The Opals dominated the game, maintaining the lead in the first three quarters. The Serbians were only able to outscore them in the fourth quarter.

However, it was too late, and any heroic attempts in the last moments were futile. Smith led the charts for her national team in the quarterfinals and dropped a double-double when it was needed most. She scored 22 points, collected 13 rebounds and provided four assists to secure victory for her team.

As for Serbia, Jovana Nogic led the charts in the disappointing loss. She scored 17 points, collected three rebounds and dished out five assists in a failed attempt to keep her team in the tournament. The last time the Opals played in the semifinals of an Olympics was back at the 2012 London Olympics. They will face the mighty women's Team USA in the semifinals on Aug. 9.