Dallas Wings Trade NaLyssa Smith to Las Vegas Aces, Waive Kaila Charles

The Dallas Wings announced two roster moves on Tuesday, trading forward NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick, and waiving Kaila Charles, whose hardship contract expired upon the return of players from international duty.

Smith, acquired by the Wings in a four-team trade this past February, averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds across 18 games this season while shooting 42.5% from the field. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Smith spent a combination of time anchoring small-ball units and also playing the four next to a traditional big, but was in and out of the starting lineup. The trade provides Dallas with valuable future draft capital from a perennial contender.

Charles, meanwhile, was signed to a hardship deal on June 17 after the Wings lost Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder to EuroBasket obligations. She had previously been waived by Dallas on June 14 but returned to help fill in during a depleted stretch. In 17 games this season, she averaged 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, often bringing a jolt of energy off the bench.

Per WNBA rules, hardship contracts must be terminated when the player whose absence triggered the hardship is set to active. In this case, McCowan and Geiselsöder have completed their international stints and will be available on Thursday when the Wings face the Phoenix Mercury.

“They should be back for our Phoenix game,” head coach Chris Koclanes confirmed following Saturday’s win over Washington.

Geiselsöder had emerged as a key contributor before leaving for national team duties. After playing just seven total minutes in her first two games, she averaged 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks in her final five outings before the break, showcasing her two-way value and growing comfort in the system.

McCowan, a key post presence off the bench, last played on June 6 and has averaged 5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in just 14.1 minutes per game this season.

During their absence, Dallas relied heavily on newly acquired center Li Yueru, who joined the team via trade from the Seattle Storm on June 14. Yueru has stepped into a much larger role, averaging 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in her last five games while showing flashes of scoring polish and rebounding toughness. With McCowan and Geiselsöder back, and Yueru continuing to progress, Dallas has its deepest frontcourt rotation of the season.

“She’s a dynamic post player—great size, inside-out skillset,” Koclanes said after her first practice. “She’s going to pick up our actions quick, and we’re looking forward to adding her to the mix.”

The frontcourt clarity comes at a crucial time for Dallas, which has battled through injuries to Paige Bueckers and DiJonai Carrington, and is still without Tyasha Harris due to season-ending knee surgery, along with Maddy Siegrist, who is also sidelined for a lengthy period due to a knee injury. Yet even amid the adversity, the Wings have won four of their last six games, fueled by the emergence of rookies JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James, and continued leadership from Arike Ogunbowale.

With Smith’s departure, Charles’ hardship contract expiring, and McCowan and Geiselsöder returning, the Wings move forward with a more defined rotation—and a chance to build on their recent momentum.

Tipoff against the Mercury is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday at College Park Center.