A Resilient Return
Naz Hillmon entered the WNBA season with high hopes, opening with a 15‑point performance that hinted at a return to her previous scoring rhythm. The early spark, however, quickly gave way to a rough patch: in the next four games she managed only 21 combined points, and her shooting percentages slipped to 26.7% from three‑point range, down from 32.1% a year earlier.
A shoulder injury and a hamstring issue have limited her movement on the court, forcing Hillmon to tweak her technique and rely more on timing than raw explosiveness. Her effective field‑goal percentage and three‑point rate have both dipped, and her Regularized Adjusted Plus‑Minus (RAPM) has fallen from 2.86 last season to 1.67 this year, underscoring the statistical impact of her injuries.
Despite the numbers, Hillmon’s presence in the locker room remains a constant. Coach Karl Smesko has repeatedly praised her mental toughness, noting that the All‑Star break could be the catalyst that restores her former form. “She’s a vocal leader who never stops pushing herself and the team,” Smesko said, emphasizing that her high‑energy, high‑effort style is exactly what the Dream need.
Teammates echo that sentiment. Players such as Chelsea Lyles, Bri Jones, Angel Reese, Allisha Gray and Azzi Fudd have highlighted Hillmon’s resilience, pointing to her willingness to speak up, stay engaged, and keep the squad’s morale high even when the scoreboard isn’t in their favor.