AUSTIN — Dallas Wings starting center Alanna Smith exited Sunday’s 101-84 preseason win over the Las Vegas Aces with a face injury and did not return after taking an inadvertent elbow from four-time MVP A’ja Wilson that left her mouth bleeding.
The Australian big had been the most efficient player on the floor for either team prior to leaving, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a team-high 7 rebounds in just 12 minutes. She also connected on both of her three-point attempts and posted the Wings’ best plus-minus at plus-19.
The Wings ruled Smith out for the remainder of the game as a precaution. Smith had entered the game being upgraded from questionable to available on the Wings’ status report while managing a left quad issue.
“We’re going to start the same five that we started the other day. I know Alanna was questionable, so we’ll see how she does in her pregame routine and make that decision then,” Fernandez said pregame.
Alanna Smith Set the Tone Before Exiting
Smith set the tone for the Wings’ offense from the opening tip, knocking down a pair of early 3-pointers as Dallas raced out to an 8-2 lead. Her ability to space the floor as a center — paired with her defensive versatility — has been one of the more important developments of training camp.
Smith is going to gain the chance to pick up where she left off, playing with forward Jessica Shepard, with whom she played significant minutes last season for the Minnesota Lynx.
Shepard, in her Wings debut after just one practice with the team, addressed pre-game how the chemistry the two built in Minnesota would carry into Dallas.
“It’s great. Alanna and I played extended minutes together last year when Phee was hurt, so we have a great connection on the court, both defensively and offensively,” Shepard told Dallas Hoops Journal at shootaround. “I think both of us played some of our best basketball when we were on the floor together, so I’m excited for the opportunity to do that over a full season.”
Dallas Wings Frontcourt Depth
As Awak Kuier (overseas commitment) nears a return to the team, the Wings’ frontcourt has no shortage of options, starting with Smith and Shepard. Maddy Siegrist has thrived in preseason and can play multiple positions on the wing. Dallas has 6-foot-7 Li Yueru to provide size in lineups. However, it remains to be seen what role Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu or Rayah Marshall will have as roster cuts will be made soon.
Dallas finishes the 2026 preseason 2-0 and returns to practice on Tuesday before opening the 2026 WNBA regular season on the road at the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 9, at 12 p.m. CT.
