alysha clark was back in focus Thursday as Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez said Alanna Smith and Aziaha James were progressing well two days before the season opener at the Indiana Fever. Smith did not take part in the live portion of practice, while James returned to the floor after sitting out two sessions.
“I think they’re progressing well,” Fernandez said after practice. He added, “Aziaha back today looked good, and I think Alanna’s on schedule.”
Smith’s side work continues
Smith is working through recovery from a nasal fracture she sustained Sunday in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Aces. She was hit by an elbow from A’ja Wilson at Moody Center and left after 12 minutes, then finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and a team-high plus-19 on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Fernandez did not commit to a specific timeline for her return when asked whether she would play in the opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“Well, she’s on schedule. We’ll see,” he said. “I’m not a doctor or an athletic trainer. She’s on schedule.” Smith joined the Wings on a three-year max contract this offseason and will need to wear a protective mask once cleared to return to game action.
James returns Thursday
James had been held out of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s sessions after spraining an ankle in Tuesday’s practice. Her return Thursday kept the Wings from carrying the same short-handed feel into the final stretch before Saturday, especially with the injury report still open until Friday evening.
She was also part of the preseason finale win over Las Vegas, scoring 18 points off the bench in the Wings’ 101-84 victory. That form has been part of her early case for a larger role after she averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.7 minutes as a rookie.
Friday’s injury report
Fernandez said the team is tapering off after going “pretty hard” the last two days and will treat Friday “almost like a shootaround” because the opener comes Saturday and the game day routine will be different. The Wings will not need to submit an injury report until Friday evening, when a formal designation for Smith or James against the Fever will be known.
For Dallas, that leaves two players trending the right way and one clear checkpoint before tipoff. Smith’s status still carries the most weight because she has not yet returned to live work, while James already got back on the floor after two missed practices.
