How NaLyssa Smith developed into a WNBA championship-caliber player
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In their first home matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Las Vegas Aces were up six points with 7:50 left in the third quarter.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">After multiple rebounds, the Aces earned a third shot attempt in a possession. As the shot clock wound down, <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=youngja01w,youngja02&search=Jackie+Young&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.theixsports.com&utm_campaign=2026-05-24_bbr">Jackie Young</a>, <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/g/graych01w.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.theixsports.com&utm_campaign=2026-05-24_bbr">Chelsea Gray</a>, and <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/t/talbost01w.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.theixsports.com&utm_campaign=2026-05-24_bbr">Stephanie Talbot</a> continued to pass the ball. When it hit two seconds, <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/s/smithna01w.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.theixsports.com&utm_campaign=2026-05-24_bbr">NaLyssa Smith</a> took control of the ball. She shot from just beyond the 3-point arc, sinking the shot to put them up by nine. </p>
