Alanna Smith Bio
Alanna Simone Smith is an Australian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Mist of Unrivaled. She played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal. Smith has represented Australia at various levels, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She has received several accolades during her career, including being named the WNBA co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Alanna Smith was born on September 10, 1996, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Growing up in a supportive environment, she was encouraged to pursue sports from a young age. Smith attended Wesley College in Melbourne, Victoria, where she began to develop her skills in basketball. Her passion for the game led her to further her education and athletic career at Stanford University, where she played for the Stanford Cardinal from 2015 to 2019.
Path to Basketball
Smith’s basketball journey began in her teenage years, where she showcased her talent at the junior level. She gained recognition for her performance with the Australian junior national teams, including the Sapphires and Gems. Her success at the youth level paved the way for her collegiate career at Stanford, where she became a standout player and earned multiple accolades, including being named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in 2019. After an impressive college career, Smith declared for the WNBA draft, where she was selected as the eighth overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury in 2019.
Alanna Smith Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
Alanna Smith began her professional career with the Phoenix Mercury, where she played from 2019 to 2021. In her rookie season, she faced challenges, including limited playing time and an ankle injury that required surgery. Despite these setbacks, Smith showed promise in her second season, averaging 15.6 minutes per game. However, her contract with the Mercury expired after her third season, leading her to explore opportunities with other teams.
Breakthrough (2022-2024)
After leaving the Phoenix Mercury, Smith signed with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2021-2022 WNBL season, where she was selected to the All-WNBL Second Team. She then played for the Townsville Flames, winning the NBL1 North championship and earning the Finals MVP award in 2022. Smith’s international experience continued as she played for AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski in Poland, where she was named the league’s MVP. In 2023, she joined the Chicago Sky and had her most productive season yet, starting 35 games and receiving votes for the Most Improved Player Award. In February 2024, she signed with the Minnesota Lynx, where she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout her career, Alanna Smith has achieved significant milestones, including being named the WNBA co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. She has also represented Australia in international competitions, earning a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics and being named to the FIBA All-Star Five for her performance.
Alanna Smith Award Nominations
Alanna Smith has received numerous nominations throughout her career, particularly for her defensive prowess and contributions to her teams.
Alanna Smith Awards Won
Smith’s accolades include the WNBA co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2025, and the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2024. She has also been recognized as the NBL1 North Finals MVP in 2022 and earned multiple All-American honors during her collegiate career.
Alanna Smith Family
Information regarding Alanna Smith’s family background is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Alanna Smith is currently pursuing a master’s degree in psychology at Monash University, with aspirations of becoming a psychologist. She continues to balance her academic pursuits with her professional basketball career.
