“I know I can be a number one rebounder.” NaLyssa Smith set her aim for the year at the beginning of this season. However, the dreams slowly died down. Trade rumors rose when the Indiana Fever star removed the team’s tag from her Instagram bio. Though a starting forward for the franchise, Smith did not feature much in the WNBA playoff games against her girlfriend DiJonai Carrington’s Sun during Round 1. This only got her fans talking about her potential move away from the Fever. And now the latest interview by the Fever’s President of Basketball & Business Operations Kelly Krauskopf has cleared the air over Smith’s possible role in the following seasons.

In Tuesday’s introductory press conference, Krauskopf shed light on the possible future for the Fever, and Smith’s importance in the team. And her reply gave out major hints regarding the No. 1, which gave fans food for thought.

“Well, I think there’s always players that probably end seasons that wish would have gone better for them, or they have different views like. I am not gonna tell, I know exactly what her future looks like. She’s a part of our team right now and she’s an important part of the team. So she is a tremendous talent. She was a big part of how the team got to where they got to this year. Obviously I didn’t see every single game but look we’re gonna evaluate everything and have those discussions with her and her agent… Not every player is happy at the end of the season. And you don’t panic, you don’t react. You just stay the course and you know the job is to make sure we put the best team we can,”  Krauskopf stated.

Smith had issues with the Indiana Fever since the beginning of this season. She had in the first half liked a post that, lauded her for being a “walking double-double last year,” and criticized her head coach Christie Sides for not giving her enough time on the court and her own performances. However, things seemed to settle as she took on the mainstay role after Temi Fagbenle’s injury problems. But the tides did not take time to change. In the wake of disagreements with the Fever, her performance also suffered.

Smith, who had averaged 15.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game during the second year with the Fever, failed to get going this season as her stats were reduced to 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Following a difficult season, she also took to Instagram to share her point of view. After playoffs exit, the 24-year-old opined that she “never imagined my 3rd year to go like this lol but i know there’s a lesson in every loss.” The post ended with “#1out” only adding fuel to the fire. She was also dissatisfied by the fact that she was playing just 20 minutes per game after the Olympics break while her starting companions got the court for around 30 minutes. And amplifying her thoughts was her girlfriend DiJonai Carrington.

During the Fever’s regular season home finale against the Dallas Wings, when Smith got a chance to be on the court, Carrington came to her support, pointing “see what happens when my girl gets some touches” on X. Taking note of that, Smith, in a now-deleted post, enumerated “Fun while it lasted babe.” This again fueled the rumors that Smith wanted to leave the franchise.

And when the Sun completed a clean sweep against its opponents in Round 1, she posed for a picture along with Carrington, who took to X to post “10 toes down for you❤️🤞🏽 #FreeHer,” most probably indirectly asking Sides to release Smith, who was drafted as the second overall pick in 2022 by the Fever. Hence now, after Krauskopf’s update, she would be happy that there’s a chance that Smith might be released although just in her third year, with a season of the original contract still left. And the speculation for Smith’s release is gaining traction, as Krauskopf had different words for another player, Kelsey Mitchell, who also looked at the brink of leaving the Fever.

Kelly Krauskopf gives a major update about Kelsey Mitchell

Mitchell, after having a wonderful season with the Indianapolis-based franchise, stated in her exit interview that she wanted to be selfish. “I gotta do what’s best for me,” was the core emotion of that media interaction as she pondered over leaving the franchise, especially since she will be an unrestricted free agent next season.

Her dad’s sudden demise at the beginning of the season also added to her problems which fans speculate could also prompt her to leave Indianapolis. But the former Fever GM Lin Dunn had overtly enunciated that Mitchell was their “biggest offseason priority.” And Krauskopf, after taking a position with the Fever, once again voiced the same thoughts that have been echoed by the Fever management.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without Kelsey Mitchell. She is extremely important to the success and the future,” Krauskopf stated. Notably, Mitchell formed one of the best backcourts with Caitlin Clark this season apart from stepping up offensively whenever the team demanded. Overall, Mitchell averaged 19.2 points per game this season. Hence, the Fever have provided relief to their core fans by revealing that they would want her in the future and, at the least, pursue her. However, it remains to be seen how Mitchell will take this offer.

Meanwhile, Carrington will be extremely satisfied as Smith might be free after this season. Perhaps, she will also have many options, as either the Valkyries might draft her, for which Smith raised many fans’ eyebrows when posting a photo in front of a lavender car, or she, along with her agent find a place, where she gets more playing time, and becomes a core star.