NaLyssa Smith's Aces Face Uncertainty After DiJonai Carrington Allegations
NaLyssa Smith was noticeably absent from the Las Vegas Aces' active roster for their game against the Portland Fire on Tuesday night.
The Aces did not provide an injury designation, disciplinary explanation or any other details when announcing their available players for their first game following the WNBA All-Star break. The team simply stated "Tonight's Active Roster" alongside its roster graphic, with Smith's name left out.
Carrington made the allegations in a social media post Sunday morning following the conclusion of WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago. In the post, Carrington accused Smith of being unfaithful during their relationship and named WNBA players Deja Kelly and Aaliyah Nye. Smith has not publicly responded to the allegations.
The timing of Smith's absence is what drew attention, as she had appeared in all 26 games for the Aces this season. She had been a consistent contributor for a Las Vegas team that entered Tuesday with an 18-8 record.
Smith's absence left the Aces without one of their most productive frontcourt players against Portland. The former No. 2 overall WNBA Draft pick is averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game this season.
Smith has played a major role for Las Vegas, establishing herself as an important piece for one of the Western Conference's top contenders. She began her career with the Indiana Fever before spending the 2025 season with the Dallas Wings.
The reason for Smith's unexplained absence remains unclear, and the Aces have not confirmed that it was connected to Carrington's allegations. Smith's status for future games remains uncertain, and it is unclear when she will return to the court.
Smith's omission from the roster came just days after Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington publicly accused her former partner of infidelity during the 2025 WNBA season. However, Las Vegas has not said that its roster decision was connected to Carrington's allegations.
Kelly and Nye, the two WNBA players named in Carrington's allegations, had not issued public statements as of Tuesday night. Smith has not publicly responded to the allegations, and it is unclear if she will address the situation in the future.
The Aces' decision to leave Smith off the roster has raised questions about the team's handling of the situation. While the team has not confirmed a connection between Smith's absence and Carrington's allegations, the timing of the decision has drawn attention.
Smith's status for future games will likely be a topic of discussion in the coming days. The Aces will need to provide more information about the reason for her unexplained absence, and Smith will need to address the situation publicly if she plans to return to the court.
Source: Yahoo Sports