Navigating the ups and downs of Louisville women’s basketball alum Kianna Smith on her journey to the WNBA and beyond.
Kianna Smith was drafted No. 1 overall in the WKBL draft last week, making her one of the first American-born players drafted. However, her journey to WNBA and WKBL stardom is a story worth being told.
Smith transferred to Louisville from Cal-Berkeley in 2019. The junior did not try for a waiver to play immediately, instead opting to go ahead and take the redshirt year off.
Coming out of high school, Smith was known for her three-point shooting. She knew her game needed a little more development, which is why she opted to take the redshirt year.
There was a lot of talk and enthusiasm around the program anticipating the debut of Smith during the 2020-21 season. The fans finally got their wish during Louisville’s December 4th matchup with DePaul, and Smith would not disappoint.
Smith dropped 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and 3-7 from beyond the arc. Smith would also tally 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The junior instantly became a fan favorite.
Although her career was only a short 2 years on campus, Smith would win the hearts of CardNation.
Smith grew her game throughout her career as a Card. While she was always a prolific shooter, she greatly improved her ball-handling and defensive prowess.
She started showing up on draft boards during her senior season, and the rest is history.
The end of Kianna Smith’s Louisville journey
Smith truly began to come out of her shell during her senior year, by show of her on-court leadership.
As the season was nearing an end I had the pleasure of having Kianna on my Off The Walz Podcast to discuss her journey and what it all meant to her.
The interview finally got to senior night. As I asked her what the emotions would be like in that last game at the Yum Center, you could see the emotion on her face and hear it in her voice. You could see the tears as she walked out on the floor before the game with her parents, John and Kelly Smith, to a well-deserved standing ovation.
As emotional as that night was, the job still wasn’t done for Smith.
After a disappointing loss in the ACC tournament and being snubbed for every All-ACC award and team, she had even more motivation entering postseason play.
Smith, along with sophomore guard Hailey Van Lith, led the Cardinals to their fourth Final Four in school history.
Smith may not have gone out as a national champion, but she did finish as one of the most beloved Cardinals in recent years.
The journey to the WBNA and beyond
As Smith’s senior season came to a close she saw herself all over the place on draft boards.
The night finally came though for all speculation come to an end.
On April 11, 2022 Smith was drafted with the number 16 pick by the LA Sparks; A perfect spot for Smith as her family is from San Louis Obispo, CA.
Two days before the WNBA season would start, the Sparks waived Smith. In my interview with Off The Walz Smith would talk about the emotions behind being cut.
Two months later Smith received the call she was waiting for.
Due to injuries in the backcourt, the Sparks were in desperate need of guards. They re-signed Smith on July 3rd to play in their game on July 4th. Smith would log 8 minutes in that game.
In those 8 minutes, Smith notched 3 rebounds and 2 assists. She spent the rest of the season with the Sparks averaging 2.6 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.4 steals per game. Smith would also shoot 31.4% from the field, and 27.8% from three-point range.
After the WNBA season, Smith began to prepare for the next journey in her career. She began preparations to travel to South Korea for the WKBL draft on September 5th and begin the draft process.
Smith, along with her parents John and Kelly, documented their journey on social media.
On September 16th the WKBL draft would take place, and Smith was rumored to go number 1.
When I asked her where she felt she was going to be picked she said “I expect to go first” overall.
As the draft finally got underway her prognostication came true. Smith would be drafted number one by the Yongin Samsung Life Blueminx.
The WKBL season will tip off on October 30th, and run till March of next year.
Smith will return to the states after the WKBL season to begin her second year in the WNBA.
Smith is just one more Cardinal Forever that Louisville fans can be proud of.
