NaLyssa Smith played only 18 games on the same WNBA team as her girlfriend, DiJonai Carrington. The Dallas Wings shipped her off to the Las Vegas Aces in a surprise trade on Monday afternoon.
This sudden development comes after a difficult start to the season and an awkward poolside incident that indirectly involved Paige Bueckers.
Smith was drafted into the WNBA with the No. 2 overall pick in 2022 after a collegiate career at Baylor. She played three seasons with the Indiana Fever. However, the 6-foot-4 power forward never quite found a role alongside Caitlin Clark and often caused more drama than her on-court numbers were worth. It didn’t help that Carrington called for her girlfriend to be “freed” after low usage during the playoffs.
They were thrilled when the Fever traded Smith to the Wings back in January. They were even more excited when Carrington was traded to the Wings just a few days later.
The WNBA’s messiest couple was reunited but it did not prove to be a good thing. Not only did DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith both struggle to get going at the start the season, their relationship continued to be a distraction off of the court. Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale had to check the couple for canoodling at the hotel pool on the night before a game.
That won’t be an issue moving forward. Dallas traded Smith to Las Vegas on Monday in exchange for the Aces’ first round pick in 2027. She did not expect to be traded. She is shocked.
Long distance it is!
Even though NaLyssa Smith is no longer on the same team as her girlfriend, the 24-year-old made sure to follow-up on her initial reaction with something more positive.
I will be curious to see whether Smith finds a more substantial role on her third team in six months. She is currently averaging 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Dallas obviously decided that production is not worth the locker room drama. Something needed to change!