To say NaLyssa Smith was an important piece in head coach Becky Hammon’s starting lineup is an understatement. The Las Vegas Aces forward filled all the required gaps, all while complementing four-time MVP A’ja Wilson to the fullest. Now that Smith is out for the season with a left leg injury, WNBA analyst Sabreena Merchant, along with Zena Keita, revealed their thoughts on the Aces’ current position in the playoff picture.
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“I been like rethinking my whole contender list because of this (Smith’s injury), because they look more like the Aces before July of last year, which again, kind of a .500 team, you know? So I think this is enormous news for Las Vegas. It’s really, really unfortunate. It’s such a bummer for NaLyssa because she’s in a contract year,” Merchant said on the latest episode of The Athletic’s No Offseason podcast.
NaLyssa Smith joined the Aces on June 30 last year and immediately leveled up the whole team. The Aces were nowhere near the favorites to win the title then, but through Smith and the team’s efforts, the Aces finished on a 16-0 run in the regular season and ultimately won the championship.
Smith was thriving again this season with the Aces, averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. Moreover, she led the league in field-goal percentage, shooting 63.8% from the floor. However, the injury occurred in the third quarter vs Tempo on August 23, 2026, not 24. It was a no-contact injury, and Smith was immediately subbed out.
“Lyss is a soldier,” Wilson said following Smith’s injury. “God has his hands on her, and we’re going to continue to be beside her through this whole process.”
Hammon is now in a spot where she needs to find a suitable backup for NaLyssa Smith, who also complements Wilson. Brianna Turner and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus are the two best options the Aces have. But according to Merchant, it is easier said than done to replace the talents of Smith, especially with the playoffs approaching soon.
“They have Brianna Turner. They have Cheyenne Parker-Tyus; they just brought in Kalani Brown. None of them really do what NaLyssa Smith does, right? Just like the bounciness, the energy, the production on both ends.”
Merchant also added that Smith’s injury now puts more workload on Wilson, which could be one of the reasons the Aces star has opted out of the Team USA roster for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, along with her ongoing back issues.
Regardless, in terms of the favorites going to the playoffs, Merchant believes NaLyssa Smith’s injury significantly nerfs the Aces when compared to other teams.
“I kind of think you have to slot them behind the Lynx and the Valkyries, even the Fever, because of this loss in their front court, because NaLyssa is just like, she’s so good at filling in the gaps that are created because defences are focusing on A’ja. That’s why she gets all the offensive rebounds. That’s why she’s so efficient because she creates such easy shots for herself.”
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The Aces currently sit third in the WNBA standings, with a 27-13 record. Hammon’s side will play four more games in the regular season after the World Cup break. Twice against the Seattle Storm, and a game each against the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury.
Technically, the Aces can finish as one of the top seeds considering how they have already beaten every remaining team they play, and all are already out of playoff contention.
But the real test will come in the postseason, when the Aces will potentially have to face the likes of Minnesota, Golden State, Indiana, and Atlanta without a proper frontcourt partner for Wilson.