CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content
We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators/alumni in the country. We continue our coverage with Baylor JR F NaLyssa Smith. She won a gold medal in 2018, an NCAA title in 2019, and was named an All-American in 2020. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with NaLyssa about beating UConn 2 years in a row and her expectations for this year.
In 2018 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: which of your fellow teammates on the West team impressed you the most (Charli Collier/Queen Egbo/Christyn Williams/other)? I would say Christyn: she had a big game. It was also the 1st time that I got to see my future teammates as we all played together.
You played for team USA at the 2018 FIBA World Championships: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal, and how frustrating was it to be selected to the 2019 Women’s U19 National Team and then have to withdraw due to an injury? It was a good feeling to compete for my country and win a gold medal: I love playing basketball. It was very frustrating to not compete in 2019 but I knew that I would have other opportunities in the future.
You play for Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey: what makes her such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? Just her passion for the game: she hates to lose just as much as I do. She has a great personality and makes you really want to compete for her. She has taught me to take every game seriously because you never know when something like COVID will end your season early.
As a freshman at Baylor you played in all 38 games and were named conference 6th Woman of Year: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? It had a lot to do with my passion for the game: I did not want to sit behind someone on the bench and my parents taught me to do whatever it takes to get onto the court. I found my role and then stuck with it.
In the 2019 NCAA title game you scored 14 PTS including 4 straight baskets after Lauren Cox got injured in the 3rd quarter to help clinch a 1-PT win over Notre Dame: were you worried that Lauren’s injury was going to cost you a championship, and what did it mean to you to win a title? I was very upset that LC got hurt but I was not really worried because I knew that we would win the game for her. Everyone did what they had to do and made sure that we played hard for her. I had never won something that big in my life so to win a championship as a freshman was amazing!
In each of the past 2 years you have beaten a #1-ranked UConn team: what is it like to be part of a Hall of Fame chess match between Mulkey and Geno Auriemma? It is pretty fun. UConn has always been the big name in the sport so it shows a lot about how Kim prepared us by showing us a lot of film.
Last year you were named an All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was a blessing but I was honorable mention so I was not really satisfied: I want to get on the 1st-team this year.
You were preparing to play in the Big 12 tourney last March when you learned that the entire postseason was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? I was really devastated: not just for myself but for our seniors who had so much left in the tank. It was a life lesson: you should play every game to the best of your ability because you never know when your season will end. It was probably the right move to cancel everything due to safety reasons.
What is it like to be an African-American woman in 2020? It is a blessing in disguise. We are the most hated women in America and have a lot to prove to everyone, but I would not want to be another race because I am proud to be a Black woman.
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? Of course I want to win a national championship. It is in my hometown of San Antonio next spring so I want to play in front of my family and friends. I would like to lead my team in scoring/rebounding/everything.