When Alanna Smith looked around during Lynx training camp, she was taken aback. This team was good. Really, really good.
Their chemistry developed quickly, despite adding several new pieces. Smith, Courtney Williams, Natisha Hiedeman and Cecilia Zandalasini were all recent roster additions, but to Smith, it felt natural.
“Everything was flowing well,” Smith said. “We were playing so well together, which is rare for a team that’s just brought in new players. It’s hard to build chemistry, but we had it from the jump.”
Along with the realization that her team could be special, Smith had another thought, one related to her team being ranked ninth in WNBA preseason predictions.