Alanna Smith

For many, when a storm arrives, the wise choice is often to seek shelter. Ask the Minnesota Lynx, though, and they’ll tell you that as long as Alanna Smith is roaming the floor, their foundation — as well as the rim — is as well-protected as it gets. In need of a defensive statement with a 10-point deficit standing in their way, the skilled forward reminds Ezi Magbegor of where the WNBA’s No. 2-ranked paint defense resides, protecting the rim with umbrella-like coverage on the way to a well-timed rejection. Unfinished, the breakout forward takes off into a sprint to give Minnesota the numbers advantage before powering into a high-arcing banker through traffic. On the backs of brilliant ball movement — headlined by 25 assists on 27 field goals — timely hustle, and a scorching 3-point display, the Lynx, for the third time this season, proved victorious against the Seattle Storm. With a fingerprint on both shot attempts and the game's box score, Smith supplied the intangibles, putting forth seven points, three rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks in a versatile outing on June 9, 2024.