Dallas Head coach Jose Fernandez wants his star forward Alanna Smith to reveal the real player behind the mask quite literally. Of late, the Wings star has been struggling to hit the peak form she displayed last year. But the Dallas management is still behind the Aussie talent. Jose still believes that she can get back to her former, dominant self.

Alanna Smith has seen her minutes severely curtailed due to recurrent injury issues. Particularly, the nasal fracture she suffered in the preseason game against the Aces on May 3. This has led to her involvement in a very limited capacity, that too while wearing a mask. Coach Fernandez believes that the mask is the inhibiting factor. She may have worsened the injury after being struck on the nose again during the June 16 game against the Aces.

“She can’t catch a break,” Fernandez said to the media after the Aces game. “She had a doctor’s appointment tonight [after the game] to see her progress to getting that thing off, and then she gets hit again tonight.”

“I thought she did a really good job — couple nice cuts, finishes — she’s struggled with [the mask], but she’s kept a good attitude and is a good teammate. Once she gets that thing off, I think she’s going to be a totally different basketball player,” he added.

Smith is averaging only 3.5 PTS, 3.2 REB, and 1.5 AST per game this season. This is a far cry from the performances she put up for the Lynx last year. This does not paint the full picture, as she has been averaging just 16 minutes a game.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was averaging 9.6 PTS, 5.1 REB, 2.9 AST, and 1.3 STL last year on her way to the DPOY trophy. She was dominant in the paint. Finished 2nd in the league in combined steals and blocks(135). She finished third in total blocks and blocks per game(1.9). She was 10th in total steals. This well-rounded display meant that Dallas went all in to get her.

Nobody can deny the talent she possesses. In the two preseason games against the Aces and the Fever, she showed glimpses of her best. But playing with the mask has somewhat restricted her peripheral vision. This has severely impacted her rebounding capabilities.

Her absences have led Coach Jose to pick Maddy Siegrist in her place. However, the door is still open for Alanna Smith.

Wings Need Their Entire Roster to Make a Deep Run Into the Season

The Dallas certainly splashed the cash this offseason. They shelled out a million-dollar-a-year max contract to three of their players. It was expected that Wings would give a max contract to Arike Ogunbowale, the fan favorite and household name in recent years. They also signed Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard to big-money contracts.

It was quite simply a gamble. While it has paid off big time with Jessica Shephard, it has been missing with Smith. At least till now. In Alanna’s absence, Shephard has sort of become the default rebounder for this team. She is averaging a staggering 11.3 rebounds per game. She is also putting up 13.6 points and 5.5 assists per game and has already recorded two triple-doubles.

But this is not ideal in any way. The Wings are allowing the second most points in the paint per game this season. And any team that is dependent on their guards for defensive coverage, no matter how good they are, is bound to suffer in the playoffs. So while the Wings are winning at the moment, they will need Alanna to get back and remain consistently fit.

Without Alanna, Awak Kuier remains the only big in the team that can be utilized for rim protection. She is doing a decent job at that, averaging 1 block a game.

The Wings now need Smith back to her best and to hit the ground running as soon as possible. A mask will not be a saving grace for long.