After sitting out for five months due to ankle surgery, Alanna Smith of the Phoenix Mercury looked god in her debut for the Shinhan Bank S. Birds in the Women’s Korean Basketball League.

After a five month layoff due to ankle surgery, Alanna Smith has returned to basketball with an empahtic statement. That statement? She is back. Smith, who opted to gain international experience rather than play in the WNBL made her debut for the Shinhan Bank S. Birds.

She was her efficient Stanford self. In just 30 minutes Smith scored 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep and 4-of-5 from the line. It was a true Smith performance from start to finish.

She also collected 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Ever sine the Aisa Cup where Smith burst onto the scene with the Opals, I have marvelled at how good she is at finsing the offensive board. Smith also had a single block in a well rounded display.

Unfortunately it was not enough to propel the S. Birds to a win. However, this was a positive first step for the young Australian whose rookie season with the Phoenix Mercury was cut short with the ankle injury.

Currently the S. Birds sit in third in the six team WKBL, five games out of second place. Fortunately for shimt she has almost a third of the season to go to help catch the leading teams.

If she can stay healthy for the remainder of the season, this will have her in good game shape for the Mercury training camp and then the WNBA season. I am looking forward to a fully healthy Smith in 2020.

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