Overview
- Smith suffered a non‑contact left‑leg injury during the third quarter of the Aces’ game on Sunday, Aug. 23, and the team confirmed on Thursday, Aug. 27, that she will miss the final five regular‑season games and the playoffs.
- She was having a highly efficient season, leading the WNBA in field‑goal percentage (about 63.8%) while averaging roughly 11.7–11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds, making her a primary interior scorer and rebounder for Las Vegas.
- The Aces did not disclose the specific diagnosis or whether Smith will require surgery, leaving medical details and a recovery timeline unreported by the team.
- League hard‑cap and hardship rules limit outside additions, so Las Vegas is expected to increase minutes for Cheyenne Parker‑Tyus, Brianna Turner and rookie Justine Pissott and lean more on A’ja Wilson while coaches adjust lineups.
- The FIBA World Cup break gives the roster time to recover and rehearse but also cuts live game reps; the Aces return to play on Sept. 17 and face the playoffs later in September, with Smith’s absence likely to affect their rebounding and matchup options.