CHICAGO — In the final minutes of the Las Vegas Aces’ 79-74 win over the Chicago Sky on Monday night, Chelsea Gray hit a 3 to retake the lead for the Aces. But that lead was just two points, and the Sky’s post players had the ball. As Kamilla Cardoso went up for a shot that would have tied the game, NaLyssa Smith managed a huge block to help Las Vegas extend its winning streak to 11 games and become the second team to clinch a playoff spot.
These are the kind of plays the Aces had in mind when they traded for Smith at the end of June, and she’s been the exact player they've needed to help turn around a dismal start to the season.
“We knew we needed to get A’ja [Wilson] some help on the inside. And [Smith is] somebody who I watched over the past couple years and just thought she had a lot of talent,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said before Monday night’s game. “She just helps in a variety of ways, not just points-wise, but on the boards. She's actually a really, really good rebounder. So we've just tried to throw her to the fire. She's responded well. She hasn't had a lot of practice time with us. It's really just been like learning on the job in games, and she's still getting all our play calls down.”
A star coming out of Baylor, the 25-year-old Smith was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the second overall pick in 2022. She was named to the All-Rookie team, finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and looked to be a part of the Fever’s future. But her playing time waned as the Fever went through coaching and roster changes. She was traded to Dallas this past February, but the Wings didn’t seem to know how to help her flourish. In the June trade, Las Vegas sent a 2027 first-round draft pick to Dallas for Smith. She said the trade surprised her, but she’s grateful for it.
“It was just so sudden. I didn’t know it was going to happen,” Smith said. “But I got traded to one of the best teams, so I was excited at the whole outcome.”
She made waves almost immediately in Las Vegas, starting and earning a double-double in her second game with the Aces. She’s added two more double-doubles since then. With Dallas, Smith was averaging 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. For the Aces, she’s up to 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in a couple more minutes played.
A big reason for the improvement is Smith’s relationship with Wilson, the three-time MVP who is known for taking players under her wing. In a viral video captured during the preseason, Wilson gave Smith tips during the game, despite the two women being on different teams at the time. Smith confirmed the moment, saying Wilson was "the realest in the game."
Now, Wilson and Smith are on the same side, and Smith’s game has continued to grow.
“That's my GOAT!” Smith said of Wilson. “I admire the way she plays and just how effortless she makes it look. With her just always around me, giving me tips, giving me motivation throughout the game, making sure I stay on my head and stuff like that. So it's been huge.”
Wilson said Smith came in the door eager to learn.
“Lyss has come in with a very open mind as to how we operate and how we get down here in Vegas," Wilson said. "And it's been a beautiful thing to see her grow into this player that's always been there. Just needed some time to come out and be about. I think I've always said the biggest thing that surprised me about Lyss is her way to obtain information so quickly. We can show her something or say something, and she instantly knows it. And I don't know a lot of people that can do that.”
Smith’s impact has been critical to a turnaround that saw the Aces become one of the hottest teams in the league. Before the All-Star Game, the Aces were 11-11; since then, they've gone 14-3 with an 11-game win streak. Currently in third place in the standings, Las Vegas can move ahead of the Dream with a win in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Las Vegas hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2018, and they won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Mark Davis is the team’s owner, and he isn’t afraid to follow in the footsteps of his father, NFL owner Al Davis, with a “Just Win, Baby” attitude when it comes to his WNBA team. Smith credits the culture that reminded her of playing at Baylor for her glow-up in Las Vegas.
“The energy, when you're in a winning culture, that's the standard. The energy is to come in, work, do your job,” Smith said.
Not every game is perfect, as she scored 10 in Chicago but struggled to pull down rebounds as she battled with Cardoso and Angel Reese, the league leader in boards. But the key is how she took pressure off Wilson, letting her shine with 18 points and nine rebounds. It’s the kind of versatility the Aces needed, and Smith has found herself in the right place to deliver.
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