NaLyssa Smith is in an uncomfortable place career-wise. The Indiana Fever Forward’s 2024 season was very volatile, and she saw her minutes dwindle as the playoffs came closer. Coach Christie Sides’ vision didn’t include her in a pivotal role, and the 24-year-old contemplated opening the exit door. However, a bigger storyline emerged in round 1 of the playoffs as the Fever faced the Connecticut Sun, pitting Smith against her girlfriend, Dijonai Carrington.

Carrington has been a standout performer for the Sun all season, bagging the Most Improved Player award as well. She averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 40.8% from the field. Against the rising Indiana team, she scored 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in Game 1 and a decent 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in knocking them out of the playoffs.

For NaLyssa Smith, it was a bittersweet moment. The team she played for made an early exit, but the person she loved most took another step towards her WNBA championship dream. Fast forward to Game 4 of the Sun v/s Lynx semi-final, the Fever v/s Sun enmity took a backseat. Smith made her presence known courtside. She supported Carrington throughout, even rocking her number 21 Sun jersey.

Carrington ended the game with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, as a full team effort from the Sun in their 92-82 win forced Game 5 against the Lynx. Post-game, the power couple shared a warm embrace and posed for a photo courtside, as they did after the Sun’s sweep of the Fever two weeks ago. Wouldn’t it be awesome if they played on the same team?

Can NaLyssa Smith join her girlfriend Dijonai Carrington at the Sun?

In April this year, the Indiana Fever exercised a 4th-year option on NaLyssa Smith’s contract. This meant she would be bound to the team through the 2025 season. However, the number 2 pick of the 2022 draft was far from content with her reduced role once the season got underway. Eventually, she ended the regular season as the Fever’s 4th top scorer, averaging 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1 assist.

However, after she went scoreless in the Fever’s two first-round playoff games, chants of axing her from the team roared on social media. Surprisingly, Dijonai Carrington was on board with this idea, but in a caring way. “Free NaLyssa” was her message to Christie Sides and the Fever. The speculations of Smith’s exit rose further as she changed her Instagram bio. Where the name Indiana Fever previously stood was just replaced by the WNBA in her bio.

Unless the Fever holds on to Smith and continues to play her in the same capacity, she could negotiate an exit before the 2025 season. Though the Sun hasn’t vocally shown interest in her, there is another team in the mix. The Golden State Valkyries could sign her in the expansion draft if the Fever doesn’t list her in their ‘protected 6’ list. The possibilities are few, but the 6’4 Forward has proven her mettle in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. If she could rise from the ashes of this 2024 dip, endless possibilities await her.