WBB’s Smith Named AP Preseason All-American

WACO, Texas – Baylor's NaLyssa Smith picked up her second preseason All-America nod of the season when the Associated Press honored her and four others on Tuesday.

Smith, a senior forward from Converse, Texas, joined UConn's Paige Bueckers, Kentucky's Rhyne Howard, Iowa's Caitlin Clark and South Carolina's Aliyah Boston on the exclusive preseason team. It marked the second national honor for Smith in the preseason as she was a unanimous All-American choice by The Athletic.

Smith had one of the most decorated single-season performances in Baylor women's basketball history a year ago. She was named an All-American by five different entities, including four first-team selections (AP, WBCA, Wooden, ESPN.com) and one second-team selection (WSBWA). Smith earned the WBCA's National Player of the Year award by taking home the Wade Trophy in addition to becoming the first-ever Baylor player to win the WBCA/Naismith Katrina McClain Award, which honors the nation's top power forward. She also took home the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards Honda Sport Award for women's basketball.

On the court, Smith averaged a team-best 18.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game en route to being named the Big 12's Player of the Year. Smith shot a team-best 56.1 percent from the floor and finished in the top 25 in the NCAA in six offensive categories.

Earlier this month, Smith was named the Big 12's Preseason Player of the Year and was also the unanimous National Player of the Year by The Athletic.

WBB’s Smith Named AP Preseason All-American

Players Mentioned

NaLyssa Smith

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