NaLyssa Smith Biography: Net Worth, Salary, Family and Career Stats

NaLyssa Smith is one of the early bloomers who have received praise from the critics as well as accolades in his college career. It has been just three years of the pro-basketball that she started played in the WNBA, she has started to show her true potential. In the 2023 season, she delivered a breakthrough performance with 15.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

Such precise stats in just the second year of the WNBA showcase one of the most promising women's players in the upcoming years. She might don the Dallas Wings jersey in the 2025 season, but she kicked off her journey with the Indiana Fever squad. Today, we will be exploring her player profile from her family status to achievements and financial worth.

NaLyssa Smith Early Life

NaLyssa Smith was born to Rodney and Nikki Smith in Converse, Texas, on August 8, 2000. Her father, Rodney, was not a player in the NBA, but he played overseas in countries like Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Moreover, he also had a history with the University of Texas at San Antonio while playing college basketball for them.

Meanwhile, her mother was involved in sports, but she supported her daughter NaLyssa in her ambitions. Her father instilled in her fundamental skills of basketball, and later on, she took on the skill to a whole different level with her natural knack.

NaLyssa Smith Biography

NaLyssa Smith Career

NaLyssa Smith could only test her basketball knowledge that she gained from her family and test it on the ground. However, in reality, it was the college basketball career that really honed NaLyssa Smith's game to be worthy of representing at the pro basketball in leagues like the WNBA and other European basketball leagues. So let's explore how NaLyssa carved her way through her career.

NaLyssa Smith High School Career

NaLyssa went to the Eastern Central High School in San Antonio, in the locality where she grew up during her childhood. She was already listed as a five-star recruit by many agencies. The primary reason for that was the performance that she displayed on the court in her senior year, tallying 23.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game.

Before that, she even got the second team All-America and Super Team honors after averaging 23.2 points, 17.5 rebounds, and 5.0 blocks per contest as a junior. Also, after making it through her high school, she appeared in the basketball-centric prestigious events like the 2018 McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic All-American.

NaLyssa Smith College Career at Baylor University

After wrapping up her high school basketball career, she moved to pursue her collegiate career at Baylor University after ditching offers from South Carolina, Ohio State, and Louisville. She played all four seasons of collegiate eligibility as a Baylor Bears baller from 2018 to 2022. Notably, she lit up the court with her performances and became one of the most decorated players in college history.

Even in her freshman year, she got to play in all 38 games, which was a separate feat in itself. Later on, she made her presence felt by elevating her performance and even made a double-double on a nationally-televised game vs. Arizona State. The next year, Smith started 27 games and was selected for the All-Big 12 First Team. During her junior year in college, she clinched the WBCA's National Player of the Year award

Even when she passed out of college, she added 2,048 points and 1,098 rebounds in total for her collegiate team as per Baylor University's data. Here are the stats that she put up in the league so far:

NaLyssa Smith Professional Career

After Baylor, Smith was picked up as the second overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. In her rookie season, she started all 32 games, averaging 13.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The 2023 season saw the best of her with stats averaging 15.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. In 2025, she was traded to the Dallas Wings as part of a four-team deal including the Phoenix Mercury and the Connecticut Sun. The numbers that she put on the board, being in the WNBA as per ESPN stats, can be mentioned as follows:

NaLyssa Smith Awards and Achievements

NaLyssa Smith has not been able to accumulate any league accolades or achievements for her team so far in the WNBA. That's why the only achievements that she has in her basketball career come from her basketball career at Baylor University. She was a menace while playing for them because she could perform extremely well, with the points average soaring above 22 points per game and the rebounds above 11 boards per game during her senior year. Apart from the NCAA championship, she also won several critical achievements that can be listed as follows:

NaLyssa Smith Record

NaLyssa Smith's early stint in the WNBA is not enough to set a record that can be displayed here. She is merely keeping up with the regular competition in the league as a power forward. That's why we have mentioned the total number of points, rebounds, and assists Smith has made in the pro basketball league so far. Apart from the fundamental stats, we have also compiled the career total defensive stats of steals and blocks from NaLyssa Smith in three seasons in the WNBA.

NaLyssa Smith Net Worth and Salary

As of 2025, NaLyssa Smith's estimated net worth is about $1 million. As usual, the WNBA salaries play a major part in such net worth while attracting brands for athletes, and then butter them up with endorsements and sponsorships. Till then, NaLyssa Smith is currently getting paid under her rookie contract that she signed with the Indiana Fever on April 17, 2022.

It was a 3-year $226,668 contract, which also included a player option as per Spotrac data. So, after she was traded to the Dallas Wings, she will be paid under that option with about $91,981. Under the contract, NaLyssa is set to gain an average annual salary of $75,556.​

The first contract that NaLyssa Smitg signed in terms of endorsements was with the Puma Hoops. It was part of Puma's initiative to push women's basketball and athletes forward. On securing the deal, Smith shared the delight that she got from it, stating, “I am thrilled to be joining the Puma Hoops family and to rock Puma both on and off the court. I couldn’t be more excited to start my rookie season being part of such an iconic brand and joining an incredible roster of Puma Hoops athletes.”

NaLyssa is also spotted with PlayStation in terms of marketing and advertising campaigns. She uses her social media to do the marketing of the brand, and that's how she makes ends meet along with her normal salary.

NaLyssa Smith Girlfriend

As of May 2025, NaLyssa Smith is in a relationship with the Dallas Wings teammate DiJonai Carrington. The latter had her ups and downs in the league and used to play for the Connecticut Sun. But her life changed in 2023 when she got more time on the court, and she has never looked back since then. There is not much confirmation, but both of them stated dating when DiJonai made a transfer from Stanford to Baylor University during her Senior year. So it might be fair to assume that DiJonai and NaLyssa started dating in 2020-21.

NaLyssa Smith Parents

NaLyssa Smith's father, Rodney, made a great contribution in generating her daughter's interest in basketball. Reason? He was a professional basketball player in his heyday and played in international leagues in the Philippines, Australia, and Malaysia. Moreover, his skill was honed at the University of Texas, San Antonio, before he entered the pro-basketball world. Meanwhile, her mother, Nikki, was a former model who stopped doing it once she got involved with Smith's father. However, she still posts content on her Instagram.

Moreover, NaLyssa Smith has one brother named De’An Smith, who was a soccer player at the University of Saint Mary (Kansas) and earlier played for the University of Houston at Victoria.

NaLyssa Smith Shoes

NaLyssa does not have a shoe deal with any of the brands in the competition. That's why she dons the shoes from the brands that she signed in her rookie season. Yes, you guessed it right, it is the Puma shoes that NaLyssa Smith wears the most on the court. As per Kixstats, the last model that she donned on the court during the game was Puma MB.04. The other models that she has worn so far on the hardcourt can be listed as follows:

• Puma MB.01

• Puma MB.01 Low

• Puma MB.02

• Puma Rise Nitro

• Puma MB.03

NaLyssa Smith Jersey

NaLyssa Smith has always worn the number 1 jersey throughout her basketball journey from college at Baylor to teams like the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings. She has not changed the number so far, and there are expectations that it will remain the same until any team has an objection to it. Moreover, her jersey lovers can pick up the right size suited to them from the WNBA store to cheer the Wings forward in their own style next time.