Smith Finding Her Stride

In a season packed with the potential to be a breakout, NaLyssa Smith is finding her way through with the three other co-stars she has. While she was removed from the initial squad earlier in the season, Smith’s re-entry into the Top Five has allowed her to advance to a completely different level.

By Madie Chandler | FeverBasketball.com

The no. 2 selection in the 2022 WNBA draft is among the top 16 rebounders on the roster, bringing seven per match. This is lower than Indiana’s team leader Aliyah Boston by only one inch in a game.

“I want to keep rebounding hard,” Smith said. “I believe I’ll be one of the top rebounders in the league. “

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She is as one of the 14 best players of the WNBA in field goal percentage and she has scored 50.3 percent of shots she has taken. She is the most successful in this category and has played in nine games with 50% or more fields-to-goal percentages.

“We just really keep talking about paint touches,” coach Christie Sides said. “You’ve to be receiving paint touches…If you happen to receive an unintentional stroke of paint, this is enough to disrupt your defense. Particularly considering the manner BostonSmith Boston are playing. You must get with your posts however it’s not like you’re hoping to be able to hit each shot. They produce wide-open shots. “

Smith’s scoring prowess has proved to be a key factor to Indiana’s performance this season. She’s scored at a minimum of double figures in seven of Indiana’s wins. Smith’s combination with new guard Caitlin Clark will increase Indiana’s effectiveness because she capitalizes on Clark’s abilities to lure defenders toward their outside. In the final analysis, Smith has the benefit of more touches after the game as she hits most shots close to the rim. In addition, 59 % of her shots are within 10′ in the court.

“It’s been a focus for us as a group,” Clark declared. “We are hoping to be able in which we can play from inside out. We’re hoping to raise the quality of our posts so that they touch. the more we can do to accomplish this the more successful. NaLyssa. ]…That’s probably the single most efficient shot you can have in basketball. This is the shot you’d like to master. “

Smith’s triple-doubles of 3 this season are equal to Clark for second in the top three by a Fever player, which is just ahead of the five of Boston. Smith has been a reliable player in and off the field, however, Smith can be found on the defensive side too.

“I’ve been challenged a lot this year defensively,” Smith declared. “I saw it as an opportunity for challenge…I began to take defense more seriously. “

Smith has just more than the one-block mark per game which has risen following her initial two seasons as an athlete. Smith’s total block total for the entire 2023 season was 10. She’s already upped that number after securing 21 blocks in only 19 games in the current season. Smith has made 10 shots during the last seven games of the Fever and is in striking contrast with her block numbers only a year earlier.

As she continues to rise, Smith looks to play her way into the courts of Phoenix in 2024. She will be a part of the WNBA All-Stars. If she can keep up her remarkable performance, she might get the chance to play in the frontcourt of the All-Stars.