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“It’s Such A Bummer”: NaLyssa Smith Injury Sparks Major Questions About Aces’ Contender Status
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- “It’s Such A Bummer”: NaLyssa Smith Injury Sparks Major Questions About Aces’ Contender Status
NaLyssa Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and the playoffs as a result of an injury in her left leg. The report was obviously a major blow to the Aces, who are title favorites at the moment.
The team actually thrived with Smith's entry into the squad, even with A'ja Wilson as their leading star. Smith soon became an unexpected icon in their midst, which only makes her injury all the more disastrous for Las Vegas.
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The 'No Offseason' ladies recently discussed Smith's injury, highlighting that she was responsible for the Aces being what they are in the season right now. Granted, the Las Vegas franchise was already doing well, but Smith only transformed everything for the better.
"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," Sabreena Merchant said on the 'No Offseason' podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXsGhTUaLc
With NaLyssa Smith being no longer in the picture for Las Vegas, Becky Hammon will soon have to come up with a replacement for her in the starting lineup. This will be quite a challenge for Hammon, since she will have to not just bring in talented players but also someone who can easily vibe with A'ja Wilson's style.
NaLyssa Smith's Teammate A'ja Wilson Too Struggles With Injury
NaLyssa Smith is not the only Aces player who is struggling with injury woes at the moment. A'ja Wilson, too, has been having a bad back for quite a percentage of games this season, which has led to her dropping out of the FIBA World Cup for Team USA. This was truly a loss for the team, but Wilson seems to be keeping the upcoming playoffs in mind as she takes a backseat.
Aug 27, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) and forward Brionna Jones (24) fight for the ball with Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) during the second half at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Wilson's back injury woes have not been too evident, since she has not exactly missed any game as a result of this. However, she has been kind of restrained and limited in order to protect her back. Aces fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that no more injuries attack their beloved team now that they are on their way to the playoffs.
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Aug 27, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) dribbles defended by Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones (24) during the first half at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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