INDIANAPOLIS — NaLyssa Smith came off the bench in Wednesday’s loss to the Washington Mystics due to a “team issue,” Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides said.
“The reason for the change the other night against Washington was a team thing,” Sides said. “And I’m sorry guys, but I’m not going to discuss team business. So we move forward and look forward to tonight’s game against Phoenix.”
Lexie Hull took Smith’s place in the starting five Wednesday, with Katie Lou Samuelson sliding to the No. 4 spot. The Fever struggled against the Mystics in the first quarter with that lineup, committing eight turnovers and allowing the Mystics 23 shots to their 12.
Smith entered the game as a substitute and ended up starting the second half. She played 27 minutes and scored 11 points, but had just two rebounds (her lowest total of the season) in the Fever’s 89-84 loss to the league’s worst team.
Why more changes in Fever’s lineup?“It’s a decision from the coach and we’ll leave it there.”
Smith will return to the starting lineup against the Phoenix Mercury for Friday night’s game; Samuelson will return to the starting lineup at the three, and Hull will come off the bench.
Smith has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since being drafted by the Fever in 2022, starting every game she’s played in during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. She came off the bench in place of Temi Fagbenle for two games earlier this season (not due to a team issue), returning to the starting lineup when Fagbenle went down with a foot injury.
When Smith was on the bench, she and the Fever were coming off their biggest win of the season against the New York Liberty. Smith scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, her third straight game with a double-double.
