Las Vegas Aces starter NaLyssa Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the season, the team announced Thursday. Smith, a key part of last year’s championship team, suffered a non-contact injury to his left leg against the Toronto Tempo on Sunday and left the game immediately.
Smith was the fourth leading scorer on the Aces with 11.7 points per game and second in rebounding with 6.4 per game. She also led the WNBA in field goal percentage (63.8 percent). By most advanced metrics, she was the most valuable player in Las Vegas outside of the big three of A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray.
“Lyss is a trooper,” Wilson said after Sunday’s game. “God is in His hands, and we will continue to be with her through this entire process.”
The Aces acquired Smith on June 30, 2025. She joined the starting lineup one game later, and the Aces went 21–5 the rest of the way before winning their third title in five seasons.
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Las Vegas now has a gaping hole at the forward slot. Coach Becky Hammon often ends up with a small lineup, using Gray or Jewell Loyd at the four defensive positions. Brianna Turner and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus are closer centers; Turner has offensive limitations, and Hammon doesn’t seem to trust Parker-Tyus’ defense. Rookie Justine Pissott seems unlikely to get a bigger role in the rotation, having played just 81 minutes so far in 2026.
Smith’s absence will be felt most strongly on the glass. Las Vegas is struggling to create a second chance without her. The sixth-year forward is an athletic jumper and has learned to fill gaps created by the defense by focusing on Wilson in the frontcourt.
The Aces have already been granted waivers for Smith due to a season-ending injury, so they can sign a minimum-contract free agent to replace her. They were in the running for DeWanna Bonner but lost to the Atlanta Dream. The deadline has passed for players who can be eligible for the postseason if they are waived by another team, so Las Vegas must look for options outside the WNBA.
It has already done so this season by signing Mai Yamamoto on July 17 to replace Janiah Barker. Yamamoto became a key part of the rotation. The upcoming 17-day FIBA break could be an opportunity for the new player to get used to Hamon’s system in Las Vegas.
The Aces are third in the WNBA standings, half a game ahead of the Dream with a tiebreaker. They have the easiest remaining schedule in the league; all five of their upcoming games are against lottery teams.
Las Vegas is unlikely to be able to advance, with the No. 1 seed out of reach and the Golden State Valkyries sitting two losses ahead with just one game remaining against a fellow playoff team. However, the No. 3 seed should be the floor for the Aces, even without Smith the rest of the way.
