DHJ Quick Take: Alanna Smith is Back
- The Transition Catalyst: The most significant takeaway from Alanna Smith‘s first practice is the “grab-and-go” capability she adds to the transition game. By starting the break herself off the glass, Smith forces opposing bigs to defend in space and allows Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James to fill the wings early, matching the “never a stagnant moment” philosophy Jose Fernandez has installed.
- The Co-DPOY Presence: Smith arrives as the reigning 2025 WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and her mindset as a communicative anchor is the solution to the Wings‘ defensive struggles. Her ability to switch, talk through coverages, and protect the rim (1.9 BPG in 2025) provides the backline security that allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively.
- The Bueckers Connectivity: The chemistry between Smith and Paige Bueckers is already forming through a shared high-IQ approach. Smith’s praise of Bueckers‘ underrated floor-seeing ability suggests a potent high-low or pick-and-pop partnership that will only grow in the Wings‘ full “European-style” misdirection sets.
- Veteran Standards: Entering her eighth season, Smith brings a “Finals-tested” perspective to a young roster. Her emphasis on endurance and peaking at the right time—citing the Las Vegas Aces‘ championship run—serves as a stabilizing influence for a team currently navigating a shortened camp with multiple missing pieces.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Alanna Smith rejoined the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on Saturday, marking her first practice with the team since immigration matters pulled her away from training camp earlier in the week.
The 6-foot-4 stretch big, who signed with the Wings in free agency this offseason after two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, said she was determined to be on the floor Saturday despite arriving back in the country late the night before.
“Not being able to be part of the full training camp so far, the chances I do get, I want to be in it,” Smith said. “The best way to learn is by doing. I want to play and get to know people on the court. When I’m here, I’m here, they’re going to have to drag me off.”
Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said Smith’s return immediately added a dimension the team that was missed during her time away from the group.
“She got back late last night, and she could have not gone today,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal. “It was great because now she gets it off the glass, and for me, she starts the break. She can handle it. Now we can play fast, share it, get our wings in the deep corners, and occupy the slots. Shepard would do the same thing as well.”
Smith averaged 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game in 26.5 minutes across 42 starts for Minnesota in 2025, earning her first WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award and an All-Defensive First Team selection. She finished as the league’s runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with the Lynx after being named to the All-Defensive Second Team.
Alanna Smith’s Transition Game Adds a New Look
Smith said the ability for a big to grab and go gives the Wings a different look in transition, one that puts pressure on opposing bigs to defend in space rather than letting them recover to the paint.
“It gives a different look. When the same players bring it up every time, it’s easier for the defense to match up,” Smith told Dallas Hoops Journal. “But when different players push the ball, it forces bigs to guard handlers, it’s harder. It gives guards like Paige and Arike more looks in transition instead of handling every time. It fits where the game is going, players doing multiple things.”
That style fits directly into the offense Fernandez has been installing all camp, one Bueckers described earlier in the week as a system where there is “never a stagnant moment.” With Smith capable of starting the break off her own rebound, the Wings can flow into the same kinds of misdirection and movement actions without first having to swing the ball back to a guard.
Fernandez said the team got an immediate read on the impact on Saturday.
“Yeah. We have a lot of pieces that are not here, but the biggest thing I thought today was we played with incredible pace and spacing. The shot selection was outstanding. They went from good to great. We got the right people the basketball, so that’s very, very important,” Fernandez said. “People are embracing their roles, so that’s always great, and that’s how it needs to be.”
Defensive Identity at the Anchor Spot
Smith is a former WNBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist who has built her career on the defensive end, and she said her mindset against elite scorers in the league is uncomplicated.
“I’m pretty competitive. When I’m out there, all I’m thinking is: you don’t score. That’s my main goal,” Smith said. “When people do score on me, I get upset and it fuels me a little bit. But that’s the mindset, you can’t score.”
She said her defensive role within Fernandez’s system will be an anchor spot, one that requires her to be the connective communicator on that end of the floor.
“Defensively, being an anchor, reliable, always helping, always talking, making sure I have my teammates’ backs,” Smith said.
Offensively, Smith said Fernandez has given her freedom to operate as a versatile piece rather than slotting her into a single role.
“Offensively, a little bit of everything. Jose has given me freedom to score, distribute, and space the floor, just read the game,” Smith said. “With the talent we have, that becomes easier.”
Fernandez said the defensive end was the area that still needs the most work coming out of Saturday’s session.
“It was good. We’ve got to get better defensively. The offensive side of the ball wasn’t a problem today,” Fernandez said.
Catching Up Through the Group Chat
Smith said the coaching staff and her new teammates kept her dialed in on the install schedule throughout her time away, with Bueckers, in particular, leading the communication effort.
“They were awesome. I had Paige texting me nonstop, I had to tell her to stop. I’m kidding,” Smith told Dallas Hoops Journal. “But coaches, players, everyone’s been great. I’ve been able to pick things up really quickly, and it’s been easy to get a feel for everything.”
That feedback echoes what Wings general manager Curt Miller described earlier in the week, when he detailed the workload the coaching staff has taken on to keep the absent players up to speed.
“The coaching staff is doing a tremendous job. After every practice, they communicate everything, terminology, sets, installs,” Miller told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Practice ends, and then they go coach the players who weren’t there. That process continues throughout the night. It’s being received well, but it’s a big responsibility to coach remotely until those players arrive.”
That communication mirrors what Bueckers described earlier in the week about the staff’s approach to keeping the absent players ready.
“Our coaching staff has done a great job getting film, getting things on tape, and writing plays down so the players overseas can learn them,” Bueckers said. “That way when they come, they can implement right away and get into the system.”
Reading Paige Bueckers in Real Time
Smith said playing with Paige Bueckers for the first time, after competing against her last season, has revealed aspects of Bueckers’ game that people sometimes overlook.
“She’s an elite scorer at all three levels,” Smith said. “But her ability to distribute and see the floor is underrated. Once we build that trust, I’m going to benefit a lot from playing with her. She has very high IQ, and it’ll be fun to develop that chemistry.”
Smith also said the energy and communication coming from Bueckers during practice has stood out.
“People here love the game. You hear constant communication, Paige is probably the loudest, talking a lot from the sideline,” Smith said. “People celebrate each other’s wins. That’s something I try to do, make sure everyone feels valued and recognized. Everyone has been really good at that, and that’s why it’s been fun.”
Leading a Young Core
The Wings’ returning roster is anchored by a mix of veterans who are currently in Arlington for training camp, including Bueckers, Maddy Siegrist, and Aziaha James, among others. Smith, entering her seventh year in the league, said the leadership lift required from her has been lighter than she expected.
“We’re young, but we have really high IQ players. They know what they’re doing and take feedback really well,” Smith said. “You don’t have to do much in terms of critical feedback, people self-correct. I’m really impressed with how they learn on the fly.”
Fernandez said Smith is one of several veterans who have already shifted the standard inside the practice gym.
“Once these other players get here, they’ve been preparing with everything they’ve received, it raises the bar in here with what’s missing,” Fernandez said. “I’m looking forward to them getting here and adding to the culture and standards we’ve established in practice.”
Playing the Long Game
Smith said the perspective she has gained over her previous seven seasons has shaped how she thinks about championship contention. She reached the 2024 WNBA Finals with the Lynx and has seen plenty of playoff basketball. She referenced the Las Vegas Aces, who peaked at the right time before winning the championship last season.
“We have to remember it’s a long season. You can’t overreact to early games,” Smith said. “It’s great to start winning, but things can look very different by the end, like what Vegas did last year. It’s about getting better every game and being at your best at the end. The playoffs are tough, longer, more exhausting, so it’s about endurance and peaking at the right time.”
Up Next
The Wings continue training camp with Jessica Shepard, Arike Ogunbowale, and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu still expected to return in the coming days. There isn’t a clear timeline yet for Awak Kuier as she completes immigration requirements.
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- Paige Bueckers On Dallas Wings’ New Offensive System: ‘Never A Stagnant Moment’
- ‘It’s About Want To’: Paige Bueckers’ Vocal Leadership Is Setting The Dallas Wings’ Training Camp Tone
- Awak Kuier’s Immigration Wait Leaves Dallas Wings Return Date Unclear
- Jessica Shepard, Costanza Verona’s Italian Championship Run Shapes Dallas Wings Return
- Arike Ogunbowale Nears Return To Dallas Wings After Chinese Championship Run
- Alanna Smith Departs Dallas Wings Camp For Immigration Requirements After Strong Start
