NaLyssa Smith could get WNBA lifeline after social media activity seemed to show frustration

As the Indiana Fever try to stay the course amid a challenging first month of the WNBA season, NaLyssa Smith may see a bump in playing time because of injuries in the squad

Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith appeared to back criticism of her role under head coach Christie Sides after the team dropped to a 1-7 record. Smith’s account on the social media platform X “liked” a frustrated post from a women’s basketball writer on Tuesday night.

But Smith could see increased playing time after the Fever announced Wednesday that post player Temi Fagbenle suffered a foot injury against the Los Angeles Sparks and would miss multiple weeks. Fagbenle broke into the starting lineup recently, playing more than 30 minutes in two of the past three games, and some of the newly-opened minutes following her health setback may go to Smith.

The recent social media post Smith engaged with, written by Gabriella Levine, said, “NaLyssa Smith was a walking double-double last year. Shot nearly 50%. Just came off a wildly successful overseas stint. She took *3* shots tonight. Icing out your young talent for no apparent reason other than ‘she played bad defense that one time’ ain’t the way to do it.”

Smith has averaged just 16.4 minutes per contest since May 24. In the past, though, the Baylor product demonstrated a scoring touch in the WNBA.

Picked No. 2 overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Smith scored a career-high 15.5 points per game last season despite struggles from beyond the arc. So, she came into this campaign feeling positive about her prospects for the future.

“I would just say I’m playing with confidence, giving what the defense gives me, driving,” Smith said via the Indy Star in the preseason. “One of my main things was just to get to the basket a lot more this year.”

Sides, the Fever’s head coach, seemed to recognize the 6-foot-4 player’s talent at the time. “Going overseas, Lys is in great shape,” Sides said ahead of the regular-season opener. “She’s doing things where she’s a threat. She was, what, 2-for-4 from 3? She’s shooting the ball, she’s getting extra workouts in.”