Height
6'4"
Weight
185 lbs
Age
25
College
Baylor
Experience
4 yrs
WNBA Performance is graded on per-game box production relative to position.
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Grade NaLyssa Smith
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The Verdict in One Read
NaLyssa Smith earns a B- Performance grade, ranking #28 of 51 Forwards on the FanVerdicts board.
Performance
NaLyssa Smith grades out as a solid rotation starter—a B- performer who operates as a reliable complementary scorer and rebounder rather than a lead-option threat. Her 2026 season numbers (11.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG across 9 games) showcase efficient scoring, headlined by an exceptional 70.7% field-goal percentage that ranks among the league's most reliable finishers; her rebounding floor of 6.8 per game anchors her value as a two-way presence. The weakness in her profile is her limited perimeter range (33.3% from three) and modest playmaking (0.9 APG), which constrains her ability to create offense and limits her ceiling in high-leverage moments. She's appeared in nine games so far this season with steady minute allocation, signaling durability and the coaching staff's comfort deploying her in a defined role—neither injury-prone nor a star-in-waiting. As a five-year veteran entering 2026 with stable organizational confidence following Las Vegas's 2025 title run, Smith has solidified her standing as a championship-rotation piece rather than someone climbing toward All-Star caliber. Her efficient, foundational production points to a steady complementary role on a contending roster.
Contract Value Index
NaLyssa Smith earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI) on a one-year, $450K deal—a verdict that reflects fair market value for a rotation-caliber forward at her stage rather than a discount or overextension. Her 2026 season production (11.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG on 70.7% FG, 9 games played) coupled with a B- performance grade anchors her as a reliable complementary piece, and that efficiency—particularly her field-goal percentage—validates her standing as a proven scorer and rebounder rather than a depth afterthought. The $450K AAV sits squarely in modest rotation-level salary territory, well-calibrated for a 5-year veteran who operates as a secondary option on a contending roster rather than an offensive engine. At 25 years old, Smith remains in her prime window, and the one-year structure carries minimal long-term commitment risk while maintaining organizational flexibility—neither a steal for the Aces nor a financial burden. Media framing positions her as a championship-caliber complementary starter whose development trajectory has shifted from question mark to stability, and her decision to finish her Baylor degree while maintaining WNBA production has reinforced that maturity perception, making the straightforward re-signing a logical continuity move rather than a surprise or bargain-hunting gambit. The CVI grade reflects neither surplus value nor inefficiency; it's a team investing modestly in a proven role player on a short leash, which is exactly what this contract promises to deliver.
2026 Season Stats9 GP
11.0
PPG
6.8
RPG
0.9
APG
0.4
SPG
0.9
BPG
70.7
FG%
33.3
3P%
47.1
FT%