Not every story wraps up with a happy ending, but what truly matters is the dedication and determination to prove oneself. And that’s what exactly was visible in Indiana Fever’s run this season despite getting swept by Connecticut Sun in the first round. After all, Christie Sides led battalion at least made their fans happy by making a playoff appearance after an eight-year drought. But could they have even gone further given some smarter calls from the head coach Christie Sides against Sun? If you ask, Sheryl Swoopes, probably ‘yes’.

The WNBA legend, alongside co-host Jordan Robinson, delved into the standout moments from the first round of the playoffs on the latest episode of ‘Queens of the Court’ podcast. However, in the midst of their analysis, Swoopes took a moment to raise eyebrows over a particular decision made by the Fever coach Christie Sides.

“I had just a couple of questions. When I saw all of that and then seeing how NaLyssa (Smith) only played, I think she played eight minutes in game one and like four minutes in game two,” stated Swoopes as the Fever forward saw a minimal playing time against Stephanie White’s Sun. She was not done yet, as the Houston legend continued to ponder what might have driven the coaching decision regarding Smith’s limited minutes.

“I questioned if Christy was like, ‘I’m not going to play you because your girlfriend is on the other team’. If that’s the case, how childish. Because NaLyssa Smith is a ball. Nalyssa Smith could have possibly helped Indiana win at least one of those games,” mentioned Swoopes. While it’s well-known that Smith has a long-standing relationship with DiJonai Carrington of the Sun, the true motivation behind Smith’s benching remains uncertain.

Despite starting in Game 1, Smith found herself benched in favor of Temi Fagbenle for the following game. The abrupt change had the 4x WNBA champion scratching her head, openly wondering if the social media frenzy that followed Carrington’s block attempt, which left star rookie Clark with a black eye, influenced the decision.

While one can ponder whether Smith’s presence could have shifted the outcome, the truth is we’ll never know for sure—unless we get our hands on a time machine and Sides take a different call! Nevertheless, those limited minutes on the court may be a contributing factor to the recent developments in Smith’s situation, which suggest she might be considering a departure from the team after a less than impressive season.

NaLyssa Smith’s limited minutes might lead to a bittersweet goodbye to Indiana Fever

This was Lyss’ third year in the W but it certainly didn’t unfold as she had hoped. Despite playing in 40 games and starting 37 of them, there were moments when her playing time dwindled, ultimately averaging 24.8 minutes on the court. While that’s still a respectable figure, it falls short of the nearly 30 minutes the Fever No.1 logged in her first two seasons. Even in the playoffs, she totaled a 13 minute cameo where she had four rebounds, a steal and block in her name.

“Everybody comes into the season thinking they’re going to have this outstanding accolade, achievement, you know, season. I feel like I didn’t get to do as much as I wanted to do. I didn’t get to contribute as much as I want to contribute,” stated Smith during Fever exit interviews. While she did have a less impressive season averaging just 10.6 points, she believes she would have proven herself with more given minutes on the court.

The Fever’s No.2 overall pick in 2022 draft cemented herself as a regular starter, quickly becoming the team’s second-leading scorer behind Kelsey Mitchell in her first two seasons. Now, however, it seems like Smith may be ready to move on. Recent social media updates have sparked speculation, especially after Smith shared a heartfelt post on X: “regardless of anything that happens in my future, I hope y’all continue to rock with the kid!! All I ever wanted to do was just hoop & show the world who I am but trust me, Y’ALL WILL SEE!! #1OUTT.”

It feels like a possible farewell, a bittersweet moment for both Smith and Fever fans, as she hints at a future where she continues to shine, wherever that may be. But Sheryl Swoopes’ comments raise a lingering question: if Smith had been given more minutes, could the Fever have pushed for a Game 3 against the Sun?