The Indiana Fever remained in the headlines during the 2024 WNBA season and the off-season has been no different. Despite leading the franchise to their playoffs since 2016, Christie Sides was let go and replaced by Stephanie White as head coach. Now, with the team looking ahead to prepare for the next season, the Fever fans are unhappy with one player still being part of the group.

In a now-deleted post from the Indiana Fever, an animated graphic showed Stephanie White standing before six players – Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, NaLyssa Smith, Temi Fagbenle, and Kelsey Mitchell. The caption read, “new era, new energy. already making plans for next season 😈”

A screengrab of the post was reshared on X, and out of all the players, the fans called for the removal of NaLyssa Smith. This could be due to her controversial actions surrounding Clark, which involved Smith’s girlfriend, Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington.

During Game 1 of the playoffs between the Fever and the Sun, Carrington appeared to poke Clark in the eye, who fell on her back on the floor. It left Clark with a black eye as Fever lost the game 93-69. While many sympathized with Clark, a video went viral, showing Carrington mocking Clark’s injury.

In the clip, we see Carrington reenacting the poke while Smith laughs. “Ow!” Carrington said before telling Smith, “You poked me in the eye,” and she later asked the Fever player, “did you do it on purpose?” which was a reference to Carrington’s intention being questioned after the game.

This behavior of Carrington and Smith was criticized within the basketball community with veteran sports journalist Jason Whitlock also hitting out on the franchise for promoting Smith despite her actions.

Speaking on his YouTube channel on October 15, he said, “Hold on man this woman (NaLyssa Smith) is booed up with the girl that poked Caitlin Clark and they’re making videos, making fun of Caitlin Clark and the eye poke.  What is the Indiana Fever doing? It’s not a mystery.

This is the danger of this league built around angry social justice lesbian feminists. They’re (Indiana Fever) worried about getting sued by NaLyssa Smith. That’s why they’re playing nice with NaLyssa Smith. They’re keeping everything above board. It doesn’t matter what NaLyssa Smith does. She can go out and mock our meal ticket, the best player in the league.”

While the fans were largely on board with the players shown in the graphic by the Indiana Fever, some of them were not so keen on Smith and they didn’t hide their feelings.

Caitlin Clark fans do not want NaLyssa Smith back

Smith averaged 10.6 PPG, 48.0 FG%, and 7.1 RPG last season. She is contracted with Fever till 2025, as the team picked up her fourth-year rookie contract team option. Still, if the Fever wants they can part ways with Smith. They could trade her, leave her unprotected in the expansion draft for other teams to pick her, or agree to a buyout.

Hence, the fans want their team to exclude Smith from the team. One fan commented on the now-deleted post, “Trade Smith PLEASE” Another stated, “Smith gotta go. Lacking team commitment.” 

Back in September when Smith had a great game on the 15th vs. the Wings, Carrington had posted to X, “see what happens when my girl gets some touches 😇” Smith had originally replied, “fun while it lasted babe 🤣🤣” but that comment was later deleted after backlash.

One fan commented on the Fever post, “We need a better bench. We need to trade smith.” One of the biggest issues in the Fever roster was their lack of depth. In fact, they only had a few reliable players stepping onto the court when additional help was required. Hence, the fan’s sentiment is not just an opinion but also a truth about how this team can further improve itself.

Another fan had an opinion along similar lines suggesting, “I would trade Nalyssa and draft picks for Napheesa Collier.” The Minnesota Lynx forward would be a fantastic addition to the Fever team, but will it come at the cost of Smith’s contract? One fan outright called for Nalyssa to be released from the team, writing, “They need to remove nalyssa.”

Additionally, with the Golden State Valkyries now joining the WNBA officially, their roster selection is expected to take place in early December. And one fan assumes, “Well we have our answer. That’s the protected 6.” Although no reports have confirmed who the Fever is going to protect in this free agency, their focus is entirely on their backcourt shooter, Kelsey Mitchell.

Mitchell’s return has been hotly debated but the Fever execs have made it clear that they want her on the team. Mitchell had been indecisive about staying in Indiana and has been playing overseas for the Shanxi Flame of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.

So far, it’s unclear whether this post was originally supposed to be made after the Fever officially announced their protected six. Like Mitchell, Smith is also in China playing for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. While the No. 2 draft from 2022 does not lack talent, Clark’s fans might not take well with her returning for 2025. Or maybe, with the new coach, the probable tension between her and the reigning ROTY will also disappear.