Aces confirm Smith will miss remainder of season with leg injury

August 27, 2026 - 1:17 pm The Las Vegas Aces announced Thursday that guard‑forward NaLyssa Smith will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after sustaining a season‑ending non‑contact leg injury during the Aug. 23 victory over the Toronto Tempo. Smith had already been absent from the Aces’ first game following their one‑game road trip, and teammate Steph Talbot indicated the injury would keep her sidelined in the short term. The team later confirmed that Smith, one of the Aces’ starting forwards and the league’s field‑goal percentage leader, will sit out the final five regular‑season games and the playoffs. Acquired from the Dallas Wing in a 2025 trade, Smith averaged 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds across 37 contests this season. She played a key role in the Aces’ 2025 championship run, posting 7.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 12 playoff outings to claim her first WNBA title while the franchise secured its third league crown in four years. The Aces did not disclose additional specifics regarding the nature or severity of Smith’s injury.