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WNBA Indiana Fever

Indiana Fever Select NaLyssa Smith with Second Overall Pick in 2022 WNBA Draft

April 11, 2022 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Fever selected forward NaLyssa Smith (pronounced nuh-LISS-uh) from Baylor with the second overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft on Monday night.

"NaLyssa will have an immediate impact on the Indiana Fever franchise. The All-American and two-time Big 12 Player of the Year will provide immediate scoring and rebounding for our team. Her versatility will be a key to our rebuilding process," Fever Interim General Manager Lin Dunn said.

From 2018-22 with the Bears, Smith compiled 2,048 points and 1,098 rebounds, making her the seventh player in Baylor history to reach at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career. Smith was the All-Big 12 Player of the Year twice and made the All-Big 12 First Team her final three years with Baylor.

During the 2021-22 season, Smith averaged 22.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 32.9 minutes per contest in 35 games, all of which she started. The 6-foot-4 Converse, Texas, native received the Katrina McClain Award as the nation's top power forward her last two seasons in Waco, becoming the second person in the award's history to repeat, joining Ruthy Hebard.

The accolades continued to pour in after her senior campaign, earning seven different All-America honors, including first-team selections by Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Associated Press, USBWA, the John R. Wooden Award and the WBCA. She earned a second-team nod from the Senior CLASS Award.

Following her junior season, Smith was recognized as a first-team All-America from the Associated Press, ESPN.com, WBCA and John R. Wooden entities. She earned second-team All-America honors from the USBWA as well.

Smith was selected to the 2019 USA Basketball Women's U19 National Team, but withdrew due to injury concerns. Prior to the U19 team, Smith was selected to the 12-member 2018 Women's U18 National Team and helped the USA to a Gold Medal win against Canada. She averaged 11.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest in six games at the FIBA World Championships.

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