August 5, 2022
Locked on Women’s Basketball: NaLyssa Smith, Rookie of the Year?
By The Next
Howard talks with Indiana Fever rookie NaLyssa Smith about confidence, how a lot of rebounding is just trying, and much more.
It’s time for another episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast. The latest episode features host Howard Megdal who is joined by Indiana Fever rookie NaLyssa Smith. Howard and Smith discuss the Fever’s season so far, including early confidence, the art of rebounding, playing on a team loaded with rookies and much more.
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Smith on her confidence in the WNBA coming almost immediately:
I would probably say our first game [of the season], against Washington, where I had 13 points, 13 rebounds. It was kind of a moment where I was just like “Maybe I can, like, play with the great players that are in the WNBA.” So I feel like that was my first taste of, like, “Ok. I can hang around with these people.”
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Smith on being a rookie on a team with many other rookies:
It’s been a crazy experience for all of us. I mean, you’re coming in with five people who all don’t know what to expect out of the WNBA. So it’s good for us. We all have someone to go to, like, we’re all going through the same thing. We have people to talk to. So, we’re a very close class. We kind of do everything together. Go eat together, talk about games and stuff like that.
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