Aces' NaLyssa Smith to miss remainder of regular season after suffering non-contact leg injury

Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith will miss the rest of the regular season due to a leg injury suffered in Sunday’s 88-78 win over the Toronto Tempo, the team announced on Thursday.

Smith sustained the non-contract injury during the third quarter of Sunday’s game. She received a pass from Jackie Young near the basket and as she planted on the floor to attempt a layup, she fell to the floor and grabbed her lower left leg.

Prayers up to NaLyssa Smith who goes down in a non contact injury. pic.twitter.com/Fm3Faz6UTc

Las Vegas, which currently holds the No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoff standings at 27-13, has five games remaining on their regular-season schedule. But after Friday’s home matchup with the Tempo, the league is going on a two-week hiatus while players participate in the FIBA World Cup tournament in Berlin.

Smith was not part of the Team USA roster with teammates A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Mai Yamamoto will play for Japan, while Stephanie Talbot is on the Australia roster.

The Aces’ first game after the hiatus will be on Sept. 17, visiting the Seattle Storm. That gives Smith nearly three weeks to recuperate, though that may not be enough time depending on the seriousness of her injury. The team did not indicate what Smiith’s specific injury was, nor whether she would require surgery in its announcement.

Smith leads the WNBA with a 63.8% field goal percentage with an average of 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 38 games. She is in her second season with the Aces after beginning her career with the Indiana Fever and also playing for the Dallas Wings last season.