DHJ Quick Take: Wings Without Alanna Smith, Odyssey Sims at Las Vegas
The Dallas Wings will play the Las Vegas Aces without Alanna Smith (concussion protocol) and Odyssey Sims (left ankle) on Thursday night. Alysha Clark was upgraded to available after dealing with a left leg injury.
- Who is out for the Wings? Alanna Smith and Odyssey Sims are both listed as out and not with the team.
- How does Smith’s absence affect Dallas? It takes the reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a key frontcourt defender out of the rotation against A’ja Wilson.
- Is Alysha Clark playing? Clark was upgraded to available after a left leg injury and is expected to be in the rotation.
- What’s next? Dallas visits Las Vegas on Thursday, June 25 at 9 p.m. CT on NBA TV and KFAA.
LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Wings will be shorthanded when they close their road trip against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday night, with two members of the rotation ruled out and a third upgraded to available on the team’s game status report.
Reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and guard Odyssey Sims are both out and will not travel with the team. Veteran wing Alysha Clark was upgraded to available after being listed with a left leg issue.
Alanna Smith Out Under Concussion Protocol
Smith signed a three-year max deal with Dallas in the offseason and earned a share of last season’s Defensive Player of the Year award, though her 2026 has been a down one after she suffered a nasal fracture in the preseason. Awak Kuier has since moved into the starting lineup.
Smith last played June 20 in the 93-92 win over Chicago, finishing with 3 points, two steals, and one block in 5 minutes, then sat out the June 22 win at Seattle. Thursday will be her second straight game out as she works through the league’s concussion protocol.
Odyssey Sims Sidelined With Ankle Injury
Sims, a veteran guard, will miss her eighth consecutive game with a left ankle injury. She last saw the floor on June 5 in Los Angeles, when she played 5 minutes and grabbed one rebound without scoring against the Sparks, and has not appeared since.
Additionally, the team carried both Smith and Sims as not with the team on the report, meaning neither made the trip to Las Vegas.
Alysha Clark Available
Clark was upgraded to available after carrying a left leg issue on an earlier report. The left leg issue had placed her on the report leading up to Thursday’s upgrade.
The veteran wing is expected to be in the rotation, giving Fernandez a steady defensive option on the perimeter against a Las Vegas team that spaces the court well.
What It Means for the Aces Matchup
Dallas (11-6) carries a 2-0 series lead into Thursday after a 95-87 win on May 28 and a 96-66 victory on June 15, the latter of which was the largest margin in the all-time Wings-Aces series. The Wings are chasing their first regular-season sweep of Las Vegas since 2018.
With Smith out and Kuier already starting alongside Jessica Shepard, an All-Star candidate who has anchored the Dallas frontcourt all season, the rotation should look much as it has in recent games against Wilson and the Aces’ starters.
The Wings and Aces tip off at 9 p.m. CT at Michelob ULTRA Arena, with the game airing nationally on NBA TV and locally on KFAA.
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