NaLyssa Smith is an American professional basketball player who plays as a power forward for the Las Vegas Aces in the Women’s National Basketball Association and is a WNBA champion. A former college star at Baylor, where she won a national championship as a freshman and claimed the Wade Trophy as the nation’s best player, she was the second overall pick of the 2022 WNBA draft. After establishing herself as a reliable double-figure scorer and rebounder in Indiana, she was traded to Las Vegas in 2025 and won a championship in her first season with the Aces.
NaLyssa Smith Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | NaLyssa Smith |
| Date of Birth | 8 August 2000 |
| Age (2026) | 25 years |
| Birthplace | San Antonio area (Converse), Texas, United States |
| Hometown | San Antonio, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Height | 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) |
| Weight | Around 185 pounds (84 kg) |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| Position | Power forward |
| Current Team | Las Vegas Aces |
| Jersey Number | 3 |
| High School | East Central, San Antonio, Texas |
| College | Baylor (2018 to 2022) |
| WNBA Draft | 2022, first round, second overall, by the Indiana Fever |
| Former WNBA Teams | Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings |
| Agent | Allison Galer |
| Major Honour | 2025 WNBA champion with the Aces |
| Net Worth (estimated) | Not reliably documented |
| @nalyssasmith |
NaLyssa Smith Career at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| College championship | NCAA Division I title with Baylor (2019) |
| College honour | Wade Trophy (2021), as national player of the year |
| Draft | Second overall, 2022, Indiana Fever |
| Rookie recognition | WNBA and Associated Press All-Rookie Team (2022) |
| WNBA title | 2025, with the Las Vegas Aces |
| Overseas and other leagues | Galatasaray, Zhejiang, Athletes Unlimited, Unrivaled |
NaLyssa Smith Events
| Year | Event |
| 8 August 2000 | Born in the San Antonio area of Texas |
| 2018 | Enrolled at Baylor after a standout high-school career |
| 2019 | Won the NCAA championship as a freshman with Baylor |
| 2021 | Won the Wade Trophy as national player of the year |
| 2022 | Drafted second overall by the Indiana Fever and named to the All-Rookie team |
| February 2025 | Traded to the Dallas Wings in a four-team deal |
| June 2025 | Traded to the Las Vegas Aces |
| 2025 | Won the WNBA championship in her first season with the Aces |
NaLyssa Smith Early Life
NaLyssa Smith was born on 8 August 2000 and grew up in San Antonio, Texas, attending East Central High School. She was a dominant high-school player, averaging more than twenty points, thirteen rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior, and she emerged as one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. A five-star prospect ranked among the very best in her class, she chose Baylor over a host of other leading programmes.
NaLyssa Smith College Career
NaLyssa Smith enjoyed a decorated career at Baylor. As a freshman she came off the bench and contributed to the Lady Bears’ 2019 national championship run, with her coach Kim Mulkey noting that opponents often overlooked her while focusing on the team’s stars. She developed into a dominant force over her four years, and in 2021 she won the Wade Trophy, awarded to the best player in women’s college basketball, cementing her status as a top professional prospect.
NaLyssa Smith WNBA Career
NaLyssa Smith with the Indiana Fever
NaLyssa Smith was chosen second overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft and made an immediate impression, earning a spot on the league’s All-Rookie Team.Across three seasons in Indiana she was a consistent double-figure scorer while averaging close to eight rebounds a game, establishing herself as a productive young forward, though her role shifted somewhat after the arrival of Caitlin Clark.
NaLyssa Smith with Dallas and Las Vegas
In February 2025, NaLyssa Smith was traded to the Dallas Wings as part of a four-team deal, but her spell there was brief and difficult amid a rebuilding season in Dallas. On 30 June 2025, she was traded once again, this time to the Las Vegas Aces in return for a future first-round draft pick, adding her to a championship-level team. The move paid off immediately, as she helped the Aces win the 2025 WNBA title, sweeping the finals, contributing off the bench and in the frontcourt rotation during the playoff run. She has continued to feature for the Aces into the 2026 season.
NaLyssa Smith Overseas and in Other Leagues
Like many WNBA players, NaLyssa Smith has played extensively outside the league, with stints for Galatasaray in Turkey and Zhejiang in China, as well as appearances in Athletes Unlimited and the Unrivaled three-on-three league, keeping her active and developing across the calendar.
NaLyssa Smith Playing Style
NaLyssa Smith is an athletic, versatile power forward whose blend of size, at 6 feet 4 inches, mobility and length makes her effective at both ends of the floor. She is a strong rebounder and interior scorer who can also step out and face the basket, and her athleticism allows her to contribute defensively and on the glass. Her game combines the frontcourt physicality needed inside with enough versatility to fit modern, switch-heavy lineups.
NaLyssa Smith Personal Life
NaLyssa Smith has been open about her personal life in public coverage, including her relationship with fellow WNBA player DiJonai Carrington, whom she has been linked with since their college days at Baylor. When she was traded to Las Vegas in 2025, she spoke candidly about the emotional difficulty of the move, which separated the couple, while both continued to express support for each other. This profile notes the matter only as she has chosen to share it publicly.
NaLyssa Smith Height and Physical Profile
NaLyssa Smith stands 6 feet 4 inches, or 1.93 metres, tall and is listed at around 185 pounds. Her combination of height and athleticism is central to her identity as a modern forward.
NaLyssa Smith Net Worth and Earnings
A reliable figure for NaLyssa Smith’s net worth is not part of the public record, and this profile does not offer an estimate. Her income comes from her WNBA contract, her overseas and off-season playing commitments in leagues such as those in Turkey and China and in Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled, and endorsement arrangements, a structure common among WNBA players.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented |
| Main income sources | WNBA contract, overseas and off-season leagues, endorsements |
NaLyssa Smith Social Media
NaLyssa Smith maintains a public presence online, where she shares her career and personal life.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| @nalyssasmith | Primary account | |
| Twitter/X | @nalyssasmith | Active account |
NaLyssa Smith Controversies
No significant personal controversy involving NaLyssa Smith surfaced in the material examined for this profile. Her public profile is built on her basketball and her openness about her personal life rather than on any scandal.
Lesser Known Facts About NaLyssa Smith
- She won an NCAA national championship at Baylor as a freshman.
- She claimed the Wade Trophy as the best player in women’s college basketball in 2021.
- She was the second overall pick in the 2022 WNBA draft, behind only Rhyne Howard.
- She was a five-star recruit who averaged a double-double in high school.
- She was traded twice in 2025, ending up with the Las Vegas Aces.
- She won a WNBA championship in her very first season with the Aces.
- She has played professionally in Turkey and China during WNBA off-seasons.
NaLyssa Smith FAQ
Who is NaLyssa Smith?
She is an American professional basketball player, a power forward for the Las Vegas Aces and a WNBA champion, who starred in college at Baylor.
How old is NaLyssa Smith?
Born on 8 August 2000, she will be 25 years old in 2026.
What team does NaLyssa Smith play for?
She plays for the Las Vegas Aces, whom she joined via trade in June 2025.
Did NaLyssa Smith win a WNBA title?
Yes, she won the WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025, her first season with the team.
Where did NaLyssa Smith play college basketball?
She played at Baylor, winning a national championship in 2019 and the Wade Trophy in 2021.
When was NaLyssa Smith drafted?
She was selected second overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA draft.
How tall is NaLyssa Smith?
She is 6 feet 4 inches, or 1.93 metres, tall.
Which teams has NaLyssa Smith played for in the WNBA?
She has played for the Indiana Fever, the Dallas Wings and the Las Vegas Aces.
Where is NaLyssa Smith from?
She is from the San Antonio area of Texas.
What is NaLyssa Smith known for as a player?
She is known as an athletic, versatile power forward who scores and rebounds inside.
Sources
ESPN, Aces Acquire NaLyssa Smith From Wings for 2027 First-Round Pick,
https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45619613/aces-acquire-nalyssa-smith-wings-2027-first-round-pick
Bolavip US, NaLyssa Smith’s Profile: Who is the Las Vegas Aces Star?,