NaLyssa Smith Excited to Play for Dallas Wings Near Family

DALLAS — NaLyssa Smith, a forward for the Dallas Wings, is thrilled to play closer to her family this season. Smith, who grew up in the San Antonio area, will have many opportunities for her loved ones to cheer her on at home games.

The Wings’ fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth region are looking forward to watching over half of the team’s games for free on KFAA this season. Smith’s journey began with her love for basketball as a child, a passion her parents, Rodney and Nikki Smith, encouraged.

“I love Texas. My family’s here, my friends are here,” Smith said during a recent interview. She took her skills from Baylor University to the Indiana Fever before transferring to the Dallas team.

Smith’s mom, Nikki, expressed excitement for the upcoming games. “We already told Lyssa, have our sheets ready. Have the bed ready,” she laughed, eager to support her daughter.

At her introductory press conference in March, Smith shared touching sentiments about her family’s proximity to her games. “Now my grandpa will get to come to games because he’s never flown before,” she said. “Now he’s up the road, so it’s going to be fun.”

With her family close by, Smith feels even more motivated. “It’s huge,” she said, reflecting on the support from her loved ones in the stands. “It just brings you back to like the old days.”

Rodney Smith, NaLyssa’s father, emphasized how special this season is for their family. “Ain’t no way in heck that I was going to miss this game,” he said about the season opener. “First game of the season, first game my daughter playing in Texas for a Texas team? I’m excited.”

Both parents beamed with pride as they wore Smith’s #1 jersey, looking forward to watching her play. Nikki acknowledged her excitement during games, especially when Smith scores with her signature floater. “When she hits a floater, I am loud. I am so sorry,” she joked.

Smith concluded with gratitude for her family’s unwavering support, stating, “I love y’all. I appreciate y’all always supporting me. They drive everywhere, fly everywhere for me; they’re the reason I’m in this position.”