NaLyssa Smith

NaLyssa Smith's Biography

NaLyssa Smith has become recognized as one of the most exciting talents in women’s basketball. Born on August 8, 2000, in San Antonio, Texas, Smith has risen to the top levels of the sport as a professional player for both the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). This journey to basketball stardom started at an early age while growing up in San Antonio and playing basketball at East Central High School. Smith’s talent was impossible to ignore, as she frequently dominated games, managing to score an average of 23.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game as a senior. Her impressive skill set made her a five-star recruit and the No. 3 recruit according to ESPN. Ultimately, she chose to attend and play college basketball at Baylor University.

As a freshman at Baylor, Smith quickly adapted to the pace of college basketball, providing solid contributions off the bench. Although she had talented teammates like Lauren Cox and Kalani Brown, who often took center stage, Smith’s impact didn’t go unnoticed. Baylor’s coach, Kim Mulkey, noticed her contributions, credited Smith with helping to secure several victories by taking advantage of opposing teams focused too heavily on Cox and Brown. This ability was crucial in the 2019 national championship game when Smith came off the bench replacing an injured Cox. She scored eight points and secured four rebounds, helping Baylor clinch the title over Notre Dame.

In her sophomore year, Smith earned a deserved promotion into the starting lineup. She improved upon her freshman season, averaging 14.3 points and eight rebounds per game. Her performances impressed, leading the Lady Bears in producing double-digit points and rebounds on 11 different occasions, and she was recognized with first-team All-Big 12 honors.

As she progressed through college, Smith’s game kept improving. She achieved an average close to a double-double per game and was named the Big 12 Player of the Year. In the NCAA tournament, she managed to score 24 points in the Lady Bears’ Sweet Sixteen match against Michigan, tying a tournament record with 11 field goals without a miss.

Smith’s excellent performances in the 2020-2021 season earned her a series of awards. Highlights among these accolades were the Wade Trophy, the Katrina McClain Award, and All-American honors from prominent bodies, including the Associated Press, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and the United States Basketball Writers Association.

On April 11, 2022, her hard work paid off when the Indiana Fever selected Smith second overall in the WNBA draft. In her first season with the Fever, she was selected to the WNBA All-Rookie Team, sharing the honor with her teammate, Queen Egbo. Smith’s career continued to ascend, with a move to the Galatasaray team of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League (TKBL) on August 30, 2023, and for the 2024–2025 season, she signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the WCBA.

Smith also shone on the international stage, representing the United States at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. With Smith’s help, the team clinched a gold medal in Mexico City. In 2019, she was selected to represent the USA at the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. However, she had to withdraw due to injury concerns.

As of 2024, Smith’s stats show an incredible career journey, from high school in San Antonio to international women’s basketball. However, basketball runs in her family. Her father Rodney is a former basketball player for UTSA, and her brother, Rodney Jr, played soccer at the University of Saint Mary. Albeit the sports connection, her journey reflects her distinctive hard work and incredible talent. Smith’s soaring career looks set to make her a dominant figure in women’s basketball for years to come.