Alanna Smith

Last updated

Alanna Smith
Alanna Smith Minnesota Lynx 2024 (cropped).jpg
Smith with the Minnesota Lynx in 2024
No. 8–Minnesota Lynx
Position Power forward
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 (age 29)
Hobart, Tasmania
NationalityAustralian
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight177 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High school Wesley College
(Melbourne, Victoria)
College Stanford (2015–2019)
WNBA draft 2019: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Drafted by Phoenix Mercury
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2021 Phoenix Mercury
2019–2020 Incheon S-Birds
2021–2022 Adelaide Lightning
2022 Indiana Fever
2022Townsville Flames
2022–2023 AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski
2023 Chicago Sky
2023–2024Emlak Konut
2024–present Minnesota Lynx
2024–2025 Shandong Six Stars
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Paris Team
FIBA World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2018 Spain
FIBA Asia Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2017 India

Alanna Simone Smith (born 10 September 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal.

Contents

Smith was a member of the Australian women's basketball team (Opals) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the Opals were eliminated after losing to the USA in the quarterfinals. [2] At the 2024 Summer Olympics she earned a bronze medal with the Australian team. [3] [4]

College career

Smith played four seasons of college basketball at Stanford University in Stanford, California for the Cardinal.

Statistics

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2015–16 Stanford 34011.8.432.333.6592.40.40.10.71.25.3
2016–17 Stanford 38319.3.465.317.6895.40.90.61.61.19.1
2017–18 Stanford 353528.4.474.302.5317.01.21.21.72.513.5
2018–19 Stanford 363629.2.515.397.7308.61.91.02.12.419.4
Career1437422.3.482.352.6635.91.10.71.51.811.9

Professional career

WNBA

Phoenix Mercury (2019–2021)

Smith was selected as the eighth overall pick of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. [5] After making the final roster with the Mercury, Smith played under head coach Sandy Brondello, who was also her coach in the Australian national team, and alongside the likes of Brittney Griner, DeWanna Bonner and Diana Taurasi. Smith saw limited playing time in her first season with the Mercury, averaging 7.4 minutes per game, and an ankle injury requiring surgery ended her rookie season prematurely. She saw her role slightly increasing in her second season, averaging 15.6 minutes per game. However, her playing time dropped again in her third season, and the Mercury did not re-sign her after her rookie contract expired. [6]

Indiana Fever (2022)

On 21 February 2022, Smith signed a training camp contract with the Indiana Fever. She made the opening day roster, but played only 9 games for the team before being released. [7]

Chicago Sky (2023)

Having a successful off-season in Poland, Smith received several offers from WNBA teams before the 2023 WNBA season. She ultimately chose the Chicago Sky after coach James Wade guaranteed her a roster spot. [8] She hadn't been sure she wanted to return to the WNBA until Wade's offer. [9] In her fifth season in the WNBA, Smith had her most productive season to date. She started 35 games, averaged 26.5 minutes per game, and posted career-high averages in all statistical categories. [6] For her performance, Smith received three votes for the 2023 WNBA Most Improved Player Award. [10]

Minnesota Lynx (2024–present)

On 1 February 2024, Smith signed with the Minnesota Lynx. [11] Her former Sky teammate Courtney Williams encouraged Smith to sign with the Lynx after Williams had signed on for the 2024 season. [12] In her first season playing for the Minnesota Lynx in 2024, Smith was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, her first WNBA award. [13] In Game 3 of the Finals, Smith's back was injured, but she continued to play in Game 4. [14]

In the 2025 season, Smith was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. [15] For the first time, two players were given the award; Smith was awarded along with A'ja Wilson. The league noted: "Anchoring the league’s top-ranked defense, Smith powered Minnesota to a league-best 97.5 defensive rating. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks (135), ranked third in both blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80), and tied for 10th in total steals (55)." [15]

Overseas

In the 2019–2020 season, Smith played for Incheon S-Birds of the Women's Korean Basketball League and was named to in the All-Star team. [16]

Smith returned home to Australia after signing with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2020 WNBL season. [17] However, she ultimately missed the shortened season due to an ankle injury sustained in the 2020 WNBA season. [18] Smith joined the Lightning for the 2021–22 WNBL season and was selected to the All-WNBL Second Team. [19] Following her release by the Indiana Fever during the 2022 WNBA season, Smith returned to Australia once again and signed with the NBL1 team, the Townsville Flames, winning a championship. [20]

In the 2022–2023 season, Smith played for AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski of the Basket Liga Kobiet. [21] Smith was named the MVP of the league. [22]

In the 2023–2024 season, Smith played for Emlak Konut of the Turkish Super League. [23]

Smith played for the Shandong Six Stars in the WCBA during the 2024–2025 season. [24]

National team career

Youth level

Smith made her international debut for the Sapphires at the 2011 FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship in Canberra. [25] Smith represented the Sapphires at the Under-17 World Championship in the Netherlands the following year, where they finished in fifth place. Smith then made her debut for the Gems at the 2014 FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship in Fiji. Smith represented the Gems at the Under-19 World Championship in Russia the following year, where they finished in third place and took home the bronze medal. She also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, awarded to the five strongest players of the tournament.

Senior level

At age 20, Smith was selected to the Opals team that competed in the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in India. She made an immediate impact, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds (2nd and 3rd highest for the team, respectively) in 14.5 minutes per game, [26] helping Australia finish the tournament as runners-up and qualify for the World Cup the following year. Her best game was the quarter-final, in which she amassed 20 points and 9 rebounds in just 15 minutes of court time. In 2018, Smith represented the Opals in her first major international tournament—the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, held in Tenerife, Spain. She averaged 14.4 minutes of court time for 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, [27] with her best game yielding 10 points and 5 rebounds (vs Argentina). She also scored 10 points in the final vs USA.

2020 Tokyo Olympics

Smith, like all the other members of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Opals women's basketball team, had a difficult tournament. The Opals lost their first two group stage matches. They looked flat against Belgium and then lost to China in heartbreaking circumstances. In their last group match the Opals needed to beat Puerto Rico by 25 or more in their final match to progress. This they did by 27 in a very exciting match. However, they lost to the United States in their quarterfinal 79 to 55. [28]

2024 Paris Olympics

Smith was again named to the Opals women's basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. [4] She was named to the FIBA All-Star Five of the games for women's basketball for her role in the team's bronze medal performance. [29] Smith put up a double double in the bronze-winning game against Belgium with 13 points and 12 rebounds. [30] Australia beat Belgium 85-81 to return to the medal podium for the first time since their performance in the 2012 Olympics games in London. [30]

WNBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

Regular season

Stats current through game on July 14, 2025

WNBA regular season statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2019 Phoenix 1807.4.195.111.5001.90.20.30.30.41.1
2020 Phoenix 19015.6.422.233.6903.61.20.30.81.06.1
2021 Phoenix 1806.5.235.190.2501.30.60.40.30.31.2
2022 Indiana 9112.9.333.240.7142.70.60.90.70.94.3
2023 Chicago 383526.5.498.294.6796.61.81.31.31.59.2
2024 Minnesota 393926.5.471.398.7505.63.21.41.51.910.1
2025 Minnesota 212126.9.480.310.4525.42.71.22.31.69.8
Career7 years, 4 teams1629620.2.449.304.6644.51.80.91.21.37.1

Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2020 Phoenix 208.0.250.5001.0001.00.00.50.51.02.5
2021 Phoenix 505.2.400.4001.0002.00.20.20.20.43.2
2023 Chicago 2218.0.300.0001.0004.50.50.01.01.54.0
2024 Minnesota 12°12°28.4.520.412.7005.32.81.21.71.88.8
Career4 years, 3 teams211420.0.471.378.7694.01.70.81.11.36.4

Personal life

Smith is studying toward a master's degree in psychology at Monash University to become a psychologist. [31]

References

  1. ↑ "FIBA Basketball on X: "ALL-STAR FIVE of #Paris2024 Women's #Basketball 💎 🔹 Gabby Williams, France 🇫🇷 🔹 Breanna Stewart, USA 🇺🇸 🔹 Alanna Smith, Australia 🇦🇺 🔹 Emma Meesseman, Belgium 🇧🇪 🔹 A'ja Wilson, USA 🇺🇸". x.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  2. ↑ "SMITH Alanna". Tokyo 2020 Olympics . Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "SMITH Alanna". Paris 2024 Olympics . Archived from the original on 7 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Lynx Forward Alanna Smith Named to Australia's Olympic Team Roster". lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "Alanna Smith selected by the Phoenix Mercury in WNBA Draft". stanforddaily.com. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. 1 2 Bowles, Jamauri (21 June 2023). "A Journey of Persistence and Emergence for Alanna Smith » Winsidr". Winsidr. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "How Opals rejection and Poland expedition saw Alanna Smith rise in the WNBA". ESPN.com. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Kay, James (24 February 2023). "Chicago Sky notebook: James Wade on Dana Evans' expanded role, Li Yueru's status and more". The Next. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Horstman, Terry (13 May 2025). "Alanna Smith is the definition of 'delayed not denied'". The Next. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "Dallas Wings' Satou Sabally Named 2023 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player - WNBA". wnba.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Minnesota Signs Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith". lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  12. ↑ Horstman, Terry (12 October 2024). "Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith are growing together for Lynx". The Next. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith Named to WNBA All-Defensive Team". lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "No time for pain: Alanna Smith eyes WNBA glory despite Injury". ESPN.com. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson Named 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year". www.wnba.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Sermeno, Chris. "Alanna Smith on her Korean experience and playing future". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "LIGHTNING SIGNS ALANNA SMITH". wnbl.basketball. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Adelaide Lightning will enter the 2020 season without Alanna Smith - Adelaide Lightning". Adelaide Lightning. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "ALL-STAR WNBL FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS". WNBL. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "Alanna Smith signs with the Townsville Flames". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "PolskaStrefaInwestycji Enea Gorzow Wielkopolski adds Smith to their roster". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "Alanna Smith – MVP sezonu zasadniczego 2022/2023" [Alanna Smith – 2022/2023 Regular Season MVP]. basketligakobiet.pl (in Polish). 9 March 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  23. ↑ Hansen, Mitchell (25 March 2024). "Lynx Offseason Update Vol. 26: Collier Dominates; Smith, Carleton and Juhász Shine Offensively". Canis Hoopus. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  24. ↑ Chinese Women's Hoop Show (26 September 2024). "Alanna Smith is joining Shandong". Twitter. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  25. ↑ "Alanna SMITH". archive.fiba.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016.
  26. ↑ "Alanna Smith Player Profile". FIBA. 2017. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "Alanna SMITH (AUS) Player Profile | FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018". FIBA. 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  28. ↑ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  29. ↑ "Three Opals earn tournament honours". australia.basketball. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  30. 1 2 "Opals claim Bronze". australia.basketball. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  31. ↑ Pickman, Ben (13 October 2024). "Lynx's Alanna Smith: X-factor, All-Defensive player, grad student". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
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