The Las Vegas Aces, especially A’ja Wilson, didn’t take the Round 1 Game 2 loss lightly. She admitted that “the loss yesterday was more embarrassing to me than the 53-point loss (to Minnesota) because we really didn’t do anything”. Therefore, going into Game 2, the Aces looked to make a difference. The usual stars like Wilson and Jackie Young performed at the same impressive level. However, according to an NBC analyst, the true credit for the Fever’s eventual 90-68 loss goes to another person.

‘WNBA on NBC’ hosts Natalie Esquire and Owen Pence recently touched base on the Aces-Fever’s Semi-Finals series. During the same time, Owen Pence went on to praise NaLyssa Smith for the way she has been performing on the court over the last couple of games. Pence even went on to admit that “I’ve never been more wrong on a trade opinion in my life.” During Game 2, Pence was especially impressed when “There was a possession last night where they go to NaLyssa, on Natasha Howard, in the dunker spot, little post up from like 10 feet, and she goes to work. And I’m like, ‘they are looking at Natasha Howard’, a former defensive player of the year, as a matchup that they want to exploit with NaLyssa Smith. That’s how well she’s playing.”

NaLyssa Smith delivered her best performance of the Aces’ 2025 playoff run during Game 2, as she scored 18 points, along with 7 rebounds and 1 assist, by shooting 7-9 (77.8%) field goals, 0-0 (0%) 3-pointers, and 4-9 (44.4%) free throws. Smith also played a role in containing Kelsey Mitchell, thereby causing her to shoot only 4-of-14 from the floor. The success rate of 28.6% was the lowest for Mitchell in the playoffs so far.

Smith had struggled in the series opener by reportedly making a string of defensive miscues that got the Fever a rhythm in the first half. Since Las Vegas didn’t have frontcourt options beyond her, team head coach Becky Hammon was reportedly forced to go with her in Game 2. Fortunately, it was a decision that paid off, and proved Smith to be someone who can deliver well when partnered with A’ja Wilson.

“When her and Aj’a are playing like that on both ends of the floor, flank, frankly, because Aj’a, what she was doing on defense last night, I think was even more impressive than her offense,” Pence added. “Uh they’re really, really tough to beat. Very tough to beat. And they’re going to have to continue that if they want to go back to Indianapolis where it’s really tough to play in that arena and get back home court, which they’ve now lost because the Fever went in and did their job.”

Despite her scoring, NaLyssa Smith went overboard with her fouls in a way that could have cost her the minutes she accumulated on the court. Fortunately, the head coach had her back.

Becky Hammon Defended Decision To Keep NaLyssa Smith Playing Despite Her Fouls

NaLyssa Smith picked up her 3rd foul of the game as 8:18 minutes were left in the 3rd quarter. Her 4th foul came as 7:27 minutes remained. This was followed by a reportedly stern talking from Becky Hammon, after which she reeled off 5 straight points, doused a Fever rally, and left the score at 59-44 following a three-point play with 5:05 minutes remaining. The fouls would have been an excuse enough for any other head coach to replace Smith with another player. However, not for Becky Hammon.

“I left her in because I needed to play her,” said Hammon. “I got on her. And I don’t like to get on players and then not give them a chance to get it right. She made a mistake and you all probably saw me pull her over there, then let her go back to work.”

The Aces HC also added that “I don’t like to take players out off mistakes. I hated that when I was a player and I don’t like doing it to my players. I want to correct it, but I want to give them a chance to get it right.” Smith was certainly grateful for the trust that was bestowed upon her. She expressed the same by stating, “It just shows the level of trust she has for me to go out there and play without fouling. When she kept me in the game, mentally I was like, ‘OK, I have to lock in so I don’t get another foul.’ It shows the trust and belief in me.”

The Aces-Fever series is now tied 1-1. With Game 3 taking NaLyssa Smith and co back to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the stakes are high. Whether Becky Hammon chooses to put the same level of faith in the 25-year-old for Game 3 as well is something that remains to be seen.