No matter where life has taken her since, Alanna Smith has never forgotten she's Tasmanian with her announced as Jewels Ambassador.
Alanna Smith is one of Tasmania's greatest basketball products and it's only fitting the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year has been named the Ambassador of theTasmania Jewels ahead of their entrance into the WNBL.
Smith might have done most of her growing up in Melbourne and has now built her reputation as one of Australia's finest players all over the world, but she's never forgotten where she came from and that's why she's so excited with the Jewels joining the WNBL.
Born in Hobart, Smith has gone on to continue to make history with her basketball career and it was always in her blood with her dad, Darren, having his own strong NBL career and now he is currently Chief Operating Officer atthe JackJumpers.
Not onlythat, but Darren's brother and Alanna's uncle, Jason, is a two-time Olympian along with a three-time NBL championship winner and 2005 Grand Final MVP duringhis 413-game career.
If that's notenough of a pedigree, aunty Jo Straatsma also not only played in the WNBL butwas part of the championship triumph of the Hobart Islanders back in 1991.
With that in her bloodline, Smith has gone and forged her own remarkable career starting with being the first ever international recruit to Stanford University after she'd finished with the Centre of Excellence.
While still in college, she played for the Opals at the 2018 World Cup winning silver and upon graduating, was drafted to the WNBA by the Phoenix Mercury.
She spent herfirst three professional seasons with Phoenix ahead of a stint back in Australia in the WNBL and heading up to Far North Queensland to lead the Townsville Flames to an NBL1 North championship as Grand Final MVP.
Then after a season with the Indiana Fever, Europe came calling and she had a brilliant season in Poland before returning to the WNBA at the Chicago Sky for the 2023season. She then played in Turkey before joining the Minnesota Lynx in 2024.
That's where she has played the past two WNBA seasons with a stint in China at Shandong in between. This past 2025 season was the best she's had in terms of recognition being named the co-Defensive Player of the Year and making the All-Defensive First Team.
Through it all along with being part of the Opals' bronze medal winning team at the Paris Olympic Games, Smith has never forgotten where she's from. That's why she's excited to be named the Ambassador for the Tasmania Jewels ahead of their entry to the WNBL.
"To bean ambassador is such an honour and a privilege," Smith said.
"UnfortunatelyI'm unable to be a player due to my overseas commitments but I want to beinvolved in any way I can possible off the court so I'm so grateful that I getto have this ambassador role."
Smith has a strong family connection to Tasmania, it's where she was born and wherever she's gone to play in the world, she's always been proud of her connection to the state.
"Beingfrom Tasmania gives me a great sense of pride," she said.
"I lovetravelling the world and representing Tasmania in different leagues every time I come back to Tasmania it feels like home."
Given Smith has been playing professionally pretty much 12 months of the year in recent years splitting her career with the WNBA and either Europe or China, playingfor the Jewels might not be immediately on the cards for that inaugural 2026/27season.
However, shewould love to pull on the Jewels uniform one day before her career is over. Inthe more immediate future, she would love to see younger sister Andie do sowith the 16-year-old having just joined the Centre of Excellence.
In the biggerpicture, having a Tasmanian WNBL team is a huge boost for every girl growing upin the state who can now dream of representing their state with the Jewels.
"In theshort term, I think we're more likely to see my little sister wearing the Tas uniform however I would love to eventually come and play for my home team," Smith said.
"Havinga WNBL team in your city is a massive advantage. It gives you access to elitelevel athletes and also improves junior pathways.
"I am soexcited for the young girls in Tasmania to have access to this pathway andcan't wait to see the impact that this WNBL team will have on the community."
GivenTasmania has never had a WNBL team during Smith's life, when it was initiallyannounced that it was finally happening for the 2026/27 she couldn’t hide herexcitement because she knows how much it will mean to so many people.
Then as ofthis week with the announcement that the team will be called the Jewels, withthe release of the logo and the club's branding, Smith couldn't be moreimpressed.
"I wasstoked when the team was announced," Smith said.
"It's been a long time coming and Tassie deserves to have a WNBL team.
"And in terms of the brand and the logo, I think it's really cool and it represents Tassie and the heart of the state really well and how they want to play as a team moving forward."
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