Aces Acquire NaLyssa Smith from Dallas for 2027 Pick

Aces Acquire NaLyssa Smith from Dallas for 2027 Pick \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Las Vegas Aces acquired forward NaLyssa Smith from the Dallas Wings in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick. Smith, a former No. 2 overall pick and Baylor standout, struggled in Dallas this season with scoring and playing-time declines. The move shifts Smith to a title contender while Dallas frees up roster space.

Quick Looks

• New acquisition: Aces secure NaLyssa Smith for 2027 first-round pick
• Dallas struggles: Smith averaged career lows: 6.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 19.1 minutes
• Dallas season: Wings began 1–11, rebounded slightly to 5–11
• Smith’s background: No. 2 pick in 2022, WNBA All-Rookie, Baylor national champ
• Indiana tenure: Averaged double figures for three seasons before recent dip
• Aces’ context: Coming off two straight titles but a slow start
• Offseason moves: Aces traded Kelsey Plum, added Jewell Loyd via six-team deal
• Rosters affected: Dallas released Kaila Charles to make room for Smith

Deep Look

The Las Vegas Aces have made a bold roster move, acquiring forward NaLyssa Smith from the Dallas Wings in exchange for a 2027 first-round draft pick. Announced Monday, this trade marks a strategic attempt by the Aces to reinforce their roster amid a season that has fallen short of their championship-caliber expectations.

Smith, 24, is no stranger to high-stakes basketball. A San Antonio native and former Baylor University standout, she helped lead the Lady Bears to a national title as a freshman and went on to become the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. During her three seasons with the Fever, she consistently posted double-digit scoring averages and nearly eight rebounds per game, establishing herself as one of the league’s most promising young forwards. Her performances earned her WNBA All-Rookie First Team honors, confirming her status as a rising star.

However, her trajectory began to stall last season when Indiana restructured its offense around No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark. As Clark became the offensive focal point, Smith’s minutes and touches declined. This offseason, she was dealt to the Wings in a move that was meant to rejuvenate her career and provide frontcourt depth to a Dallas team undergoing its own transformation.

Unfortunately, Smith’s tenure in Dallas proved underwhelming. Despite returning to her home state, she struggled to find rhythm and chemistry in the Wings’ system. In 2024, she has recorded career lows across nearly every statistical category, averaging just 6.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 19.1 minutes per game. Dallas, for its part, stumbled to a 1-11 start before recently improving, going 4-2 over their past six games. Smith’s inability to integrate fully into the team’s scheme led to diminished playing time and speculation about her role going forward.

Las Vegas, meanwhile, is coming off two consecutive WNBA championships (2022 and 2023) but has not looked like a title contender so far this season. In a major offseason shake-up, they dealt key guard Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks while acquiring All-Star Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm as part of a complex six-team deal. That move, while adding firepower to their backcourt, left a void in the frontcourt—one the team hopes Smith can help fill.

The Aces’ acquisition of Smith is a calculated gamble. At her best, Smith is a versatile forward with elite rebounding instincts, a soft mid-range shot, and the ability to defend multiple positions. Her athleticism and prior success suggest she has significant untapped potential, especially in a system that has been successful in maximizing player roles under head coach Becky Hammon. Las Vegas likely sees Smith as a developmental piece with high upside, someone who can be molded into a reliable contributor as the team recalibrates its approach.

The trade also meant Dallas had to release forward Kaila Charles, who was on a hardship contract signed June 17. Her release clears the necessary roster space but also underlines the turbulent and transitional state of the Wings’ lineup this season.

For Dallas, this deal offers long-term value. By securing a future first-round pick, they gain flexibility to continue building around young talent like Paige Bueckers—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft—and reallocate minutes to players who better fit head coach Latricia Trammell’s evolving system.

Ultimately, this trade could be mutually beneficial: Dallas gains a valuable draft asset for the future, while Las Vegas takes a chance on a former top draft pick who, under the right conditions, could reignite her career and become a key contributor on a team with championship aspirations.

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