Why Is Nalyssa Smith Leaving Indiana Fever And Which Team Will She Join?

why Nelissa Smith leaving Indiana Fever which teen will she join Nelissa Smith's tenure with the Indiana Fever appears to be nearing its end as the current WNBA season progresses mounting tensions between Smith and the team's coaching staff particularly head coach Christy sides have become increasingly apparent raising doubts about Smith's future with the fever during a recent game against the Minnesota links Smith played only 10 minutes a surprising and concerning decision for player of her caliber this limited playing time sparked frustration from Smith's brother who took to Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with the coach's decisions and the role Smith was given his tweets suggested that Smith was not being provided a fair chance to succeed a sentiment that many of her followers might share Smith's decline in performance since her College days at Baylor has been puzzling at Baylor she was known for her versatility and dynamic play excelling in shooting finishing and playing with urgency The Confident and fast pull-up shots that characterized her college game seemed to have vanished since she joined the WNBA her brother attributes this drop in performance to a confidence issue which seems plausible given the current circumstances this season the fever have shifted from a rebuilding phase to aiming for playoff contention for the first time in her WNBA career Smith is part of a team with serious aspirations of winning games and and making a postseason run this shift in Focus may have intensified the pressure on her contributing to her declining output and eroding her confidence Smith has always been a strong rebounder although her defense has not been her strongest suit nevertheless she has the potential to be a prolific scorer a role she showcased during her time in international leagues in the offseason however she has struggled to find her rhythm in the WNBA and her role with the fever appears to be Inc increasingly misaligned with her strengths a change of scenery might be beneficial for her career at this point a team where Smith could serve as a leading scorer Off the Bench might be a better fit the Atlanta Dream for example could be an ideal destination as they could benefit from an additional scoring option if a trade were to occur the fever might not demand much in return potentially settling for a couple of second round picks given Smith's current Misfit with the team the question of whether chrisy sides is responsible for Smith's struggles is complex a coach's role involves winning games and maximizing team performance but it also includes developing individual players and getting the best out of them if prioritizing players like Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell means sidelining Smith's potential it highlights where the team's priorities lie Smith has become a fourth option on the team and while she occasionally steps up she is often relegated to a secondary role further undermining her confidence looking ahead Smith faces matchups against teams like the Atlanta Dream where she could perform well given their lack of top tier Defenders however against stronger opponents like the Connecticut Sun she has struggled to make an impact these inconsistent performances have contributed to her diminished standing within the team recent social media activities suggest Smith might be contemplating her future elsewhere a cryptic Instagram post hinted at frustration but also resilience with supportive comments from fellow players although not as overt as other instances where players have signaled a desire to leave the signs are present it is surprising that Smith wasn't moved before the trade deadline her perceived value around the league might be lower than her actual talent which is unfortunate given her abilities the power forward position is one of the most challenging in the league and despite her Talent Smith is finding it tough to compete at the High highest level it seems increasingly inevitable that Smith will part ways with the fever the relationship between her and sides appears irreparable and as long as sides Remains the coach Smith's days in Indiana are likely numbered the team shifting priorities suggest that Smith May no longer fit into the fever's plans for the future