Dallas Wings officials announced Saturday evening they have acquired free agent forward Alanna Smith, who earned co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 alongside Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson.
According to ESPN, the 29-year-old player has committed to a three-year maximum deal, as confirmed by her representative Sammy Wloszczowski from Sports International Group agency. Smith previously played two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx.
The 6-foot-4 forward not only claimed the prestigious defensive award but also earned a spot on the All-Defensive first team in 2025, following her second-team selection the previous year.
During the 2025 season, Smith recorded impressive defensive statistics, finishing third league-wide in blocked shots with 80 and tying for tenth in steals with 55. Her contributions helped Minnesota achieve the WNBA’s top regular-season record at 34-10 while maintaining the second-best scoring defense at 76.7 points per game.
Wings general manager Curt Miller praised the acquisition in an official statement: “As the reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year, she is one of the top two-way players in the WNBA who consistently impacts both sides of the ball. From a defensive standpoint, Alanna gives our coaching staff unbelievable versatility — she can play multiple coverages and drastically affect shots around the paint. Offensively — we are excited to pair her with our outstanding guards, showcasing her ability to play inside or outside.”
Smith’s 2025 regular season performance included averages of 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.9 blocks across 26.5 minutes per game in 42 starts for Minnesota. Her playoff contributions featured 6.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks over 23.5 minutes in six postseason appearances.
Throughout her professional career, the Australian native has compiled averages of 7.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks across 20.9 minutes per game in 183 regular-season contests. Her journey has included stops with Phoenix Mercury (2019-21), Indiana Fever (2022), Chicago Sky (2023), and most recently Minnesota (2024-25), with 117 career starts.
Smith expressed gratitude for her Minnesota experience through a social media post: “It’s hard to put into words what my time in Minnesota has meant to me. This team and this city embraced me and I am so grateful for all the love and support and how this Aussie girl was welcomed with open arms. Forever will hold a special place in my heart.”
The Phoenix Mercury originally selected Smith as the eighth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft following her collegiate career at Stanford University.
