I am confident that I can dominate rebounding. At the start of this season, NaLyssa Smith established her goal for the year. But the dreams gradually stopped. The Indiana Fever star’s removal of the team’s tag from her Instagram bio sparked trade rumours.
Though a starting forward for the club, Smith did not feature much in the WNBA playoff games against her girlfriend DiJonai Carrington’s Sun during Round 1. Her admirers are now discussing her possible departure from the Fever as a result of this.
Smith’s potential involvement in the upcoming seasons has finally been clarified by Kelly Krauskopf, President of Basketball & Business Operations for the Fever.
Krauskopf discussed Smith’s role on the squad and the Fever’s potential future during Tuesday’s opening press conference. Additionally, her response revealed important details about No. 1, which admirers found thought-provoking.
“Well, I believe that players always have different opinions or conclude seasons wishing that things had gone differently for them. I won’t reveal because I already know what her future holds. She is currently a member of our team and plays a significant role in it. She is therefore incredibly talented.
She had a significant role in the team’s success this season. I didn’t watch every game, of course, but we’re going to review everything and have those conversations with her and her agency.
As the season comes to an end, not every player is content. Additionally, you remain calm and don’t react. You simply keep going and understand that our task is to assemble the greatest team possible,” Krauskopf said.
“You would want to play alongside [Caitlin Clark] if you’re a smart basketball player and you see her play.”
Kelly Krauskopf, President of Basketball & Business Operations, regarding Caitlin Clark.
Since the start of the current season, Smith has experienced problems with the Indiana Fever. She had liked a post in the first half of the game that complimented her on having a “walking double-double last year” and chastised Christie Sides, her head coach, for not giving her enough playing time and attention to her own play.
However, after Temi Fagbenle’s injury issues, things appeared to calm down as she assumed the primary position. However, the tides turned quickly. Her performance worsened as well after her arguments with the fever.
Smith’s numbers dropped to 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game this season after she had averaged 15.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in her second season with the Fever.
She also shared her perspective on Instagram after a challenging season. The 24-year-old said that she “never envisioned my third year to go like this, but I know there’s a lesson in every loss” following her team’s playoff exit.
With “#1out” at the end of the post, it just served to fan the flames. She was also not happy that, after the Olympics, she was only playing for 20 minutes a game, whereas her starting teammates were on the court for about 30 minutes. DiJonai Carrington, her girlfriend, was also influencing her ideas.
When Smith had an opportunity to play in the Fever’s regular-season home finale versus the Dallas Wings, Carrington stood by her, telling X to “see what happens when my daughter gets some touches.” Smith noted it and said, “Fun while it lasted darling,” in a since-deleted post.This furthered the persistent rumours that Smith desired to leave the team.
And after the Sun easily defeated its opponents in Round 1, she posed for a photo with Carrington, who posted on X to share, “10 toes down for you❤️🤞🏽 #FreeHer,” presumably implying that Sides should release Smith, whom the Fever selected with the second overall pick in 2022.
Therefore, she would be pleased that Smith may be freed after Krauskopf’s update, even if she is just in her third year and has one more season left on her original contract. Additionally, there is growing conjecture regarding Smith’s potential release because Krauskopf made disparaging remarks about another player who appeared to be on the verge of leaving the Fever, Kelsey Mitchell.
Kelly Mitchell gets a significant update from Kelly Krauskopf.
Mitchell said in her farewell interview that she wanted to be selfish following a fantastic season with the Indianapolis-based team. The central theme of her media interview was “I have to do what’s best for me,” as she considered quitting the team given that she will be an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming season.
Fans suspect that she may quit Indianapolis as a result of her troubles, which were exacerbated by her dad’s unexpected death at the start of the season. But the previous Fever GM, Lin Dunn, had publicly enunciated that Mitchell was their “biggest offseason priority.” And Krauskopf reiterated his views, which the Fever management has also echoed, after aligning himself with the Fever.
Without Kelsey Mitchell, we would not be in our current position. For the future and the success, she is crucial,” Kruskopf said. Apart from stepping up offensively when the team needed it, Mitchell and Caitlin Clark established one of the greatest backcourts this season.
Mitchell finished the season with an average of 19.2 points per game. Therefore, the Fever have given their loyal supporters some much-needed comfort by saying that they would want her in the future and will at the very least pursue her. However, it remains to be seen how Mitchell will accept this offer.
Carrington, meanwhile, will be overjoyed since Smith might be free after this season. She may also have a lot of alternatives since either the Valkyries draft her, which many fans expressed surprise about when Smith shared a picture of herself in front of a lavender car on social media, or she and her agent locate a location where she gets more playing time and establishes herself as a main star.
