The Dallas Wings caught a spark of momentum with their comeback win over Chicago on Saturday. But they’ll have to carry that momentum without one of their key bench pieces.
Alanna Smith is officially out for Tuesday’s road game against the Seattle Storm. The Wings listed her with a facial injury, which she picked up in the first quarter of that Sky game. Smith played just five minutes before exiting and didn’t return. She finished with three points and two steals in that short run.
This is the kind of setback that stings a little more given the investment. Dallas signed Smith to a three-year max contract in the offseason, banking on the forward who shared Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors with A’ja Wilson last season. So far, the return hasn’t matched the price tag. Smith has played 15 games, starting seven of them, and averages 3.5 points and 2.9 rebounds across about 15 minutes a night. Her shooting splits are rough: 37.9 percent from the field, 14.8 percent from deep, 71.4 percent from the line.
The Wings hoped Smith would bring the same disruptive defense that made her a standout last year. It hasn’t clicked yet, and now she’s sidelined with no clear timeline for return.
More Minutes for Li Yueru
With Smith out, backup center Li Yueru should see an expanded role off the bench. Yueru came up big in Saturday’s win, hitting clutch free throws down the stretch and finishing with solid minutes. She’s been a dependable presence when called upon, and this injury opens the door for her to carve out a consistent spot in the rotation.
The Storm won’t be an easy test. Seattle plays aggressive team defense and has the personnel to exploit any gaps in the Wings’ frontcourt depth. Dallas will need contributions from Yueru and the rest of the second unit to keep the momentum alive.
Tip-off is set for Tuesday night in Seattle. The Wings haven’t released an update on when Smith might return.
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