Alanna Smith
Alanna Simone Smith is an Australian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association and for the Mist of Unrivaled. She played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal.
Smith was a member of the Australian women's basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the Opals were eliminated after losing to the USA in the quarterfinals. At the 2024 Summer Olympics she earned a bronze medal with the Australian team.
College career
Smith played four seasons of college basketball at Stanford University in Stanford, California for the Cardinal.Statistics
Professional career
WNBA
Phoenix Mercury (2019–2021)
Smith was selected as the eighth overall pick of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. After making the final roster with the Mercury, Smith played under head coach Sandy Brondello, who was also her coach in the Australian national team, and alongside the likes of Brittney Griner, DeWanna Bonner and Diana Taurasi. Smith saw limited playing time in her first season with the Mercury, averaging 7.4 minutes per game, and an ankle injury requiring surgery ended her rookie season prematurely. She saw her role slightly increasing in her second season, averaging 15.6 minutes per game. However, her playing time dropped again in her third season, and the Mercury did not re-sign her after her rookie contract expired.Indiana Fever (2022)
On 21 February 2022, Smith signed a training camp contract with the Indiana Fever. She made the opening day roster, but played only 9 games for the team before being released.Chicago Sky (2023)
Having a successful off-season in Poland, Smith received several offers from WNBA teams before the 2023 WNBA season. She ultimately chose the Chicago Sky after coach James Wade guaranteed her a roster spot. She hadn't been sure she wanted to return to the WNBA until Wade's offer. In her fifth season in the WNBA, Smith had her most productive season to date. She started 35 games, averaged 26.5 minutes per game, and posted career-high averages in all statistical categories. For her performance, Smith received three votes for the 2023 WNBA Most Improved Player Award.Minnesota Lynx (2024–present)
On 1 February 2024, Smith signed with the Minnesota Lynx. Her former Sky teammate Courtney Williams encouraged Smith to sign with the Lynx after Williams had signed on for the 2024 season. In her first season playing for the Minnesota Lynx in 2024, Smith was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, her first WNBA award. In Game 3 of the Finals, Smith's back was injured, but she continued to play in Game 4.In the 2025 season, Smith was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. For the first time, two players were given the award; Smith was awarded along with A'ja Wilson. The league noted: "Anchoring the league’s top-ranked defense, Smith powered Minnesota to a league-best 97.5 defensive rating. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks, ranked third in both blocks per game and total blocks, and tied for 10th in total steals."
Unrivaled
On November 5th, 2025, it was announced that Smith had been drafted by Mist BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season.Overseas
In the 2019–2020 season, Smith played for Incheon S-Birds of the Women's Korean Basketball League and was named to in the All-Star team.Smith returned home to Australia after signing with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2020 WNBL season. However, she ultimately missed the shortened season due to an ankle injury sustained in the 2020 WNBA season. Smith joined the Lightning for the 2021–22 WNBL season and was selected to the All-WNBL Second Team. Following her release by the Indiana Fever during the 2022 WNBA season, Smith returned to Australia once again and signed with the NBL1 team, the Townsville Flames, winning a championship.
In the 2022–2023 season, Smith played for AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski of the Basket Liga Kobiet. Smith was named the MVP of the league.
In the 2023–2024 season, Smith played for Emlak Konut of the Turkish Super League.
Smith played for the Shandong Six Stars in the WCBA during the 2024–2025 season.
National team career
Youth level
Smith made her international debut for the Sapphires at the 2011 FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship in Canberra. Smith represented the Sapphires at the Under-17 World Championship in the Netherlands the following year, where they finished in fifth place. Smith then made her debut for the Gems at the 2014 FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship in Fiji. Smith represented the Gems at the Under-19 World Championship in Russia the following year, where they finished in third place and took home the bronze medal. She also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, awarded to the five strongest players of the tournament.Senior level
At age 20, Smith was selected to the Opals team that competed in the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in India. She made an immediate impact, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game, helping Australia finish the tournament as runners-up and qualify for the World Cup the following year. Her best game was the quarter-final, in which she amassed 20 points and 9 rebounds in just 15 minutes of court time.In 2018, Smith represented the Opals in her first major international tournament—the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, held in Tenerife, Spain. She averaged 14.4 minutes of court time for 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, with her best game yielding 10 points and 5 rebounds. She also scored 10 points in the final vs USA.