Anna Smrek: Height, Shoe Size, Parents & Career

There aren’t many athletes who can look an NBA player’s height in the eye and still have inches to spare. Anna Smrek, a 6-foot-9 Canadian opposite spiker, is one of them — and she’s just getting started. With a father who won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and a volleyball career that has already taken her from Ontario to the NCAA’s biggest stage, Smrek’s story is as much about potential as it is about genetics. Here’s what the verified facts reveal about her rise, her measurements, and what comes next.

Height: 6 ft 9 in (205 cm) ·
Position: Opposite spiker / middle blocker ·
College: University of Wisconsin ·
Father: Mike Smrek (former NBA) ·
National team: Canada ·
Shoe size: US 13+ (unverified)

A close look at the official numbers and verified career highlights reveals a player whose physical gifts are backed by proven performance at the NCAA level.

How tall is Anna Smrek and what size shoe does she wear?

Smrek’s height is one of the most consistent pieces of data across all official sources. The Wisconsin Badgers official roster lists her at 6-9 (roughly 206 cm). A Wisconsin signing-day feature from the university’s athletics channel describes her as “just over 6’8” and notes she can “touch close to 11 feet” in her approach. The slight variation — 6’8″ vs 6’9″ — is common in volleyball, where measurements may differ between barefoot and in-shoe readings, or between morning and evening height. The implication: both numbers confirm she is among the tallest in Division I, and the discrepancy reflects measurement methodology rather than uncertainty about her stature.

Anna Smrek’s height: official listing and context

• 6-9 (205 cm) — University of Wisconsin official roster (tier-1 source)
• “Just over 6’8″” — Wisconsin Volleyball signing-day feature (YouTube)

The difference likely reflects measurement methodology. What’s beyond dispute: Smrek is among the tallest players in Division I women’s volleyball and uses that reach to dominate at the net.

Anna Smrek shoe size: what we know

Unlike height, shoe size is not part of official team rosters. The only public references come from fan communities and social media. A 2024 Instagram post (non-official account) suggests a women’s US size 13 to 14, while TikTok discussion threads (user-generated content) repeat similar figures. None of these constitute an authoritative measurement. Until Smrek’s footwear size is confirmed by the Canadian national team or a professional club, it remains unverified.

Comparison to other tall volleyball players

Six feet nine inches places Smrek in elite company. Among active female players, only a handful exceed 6’8″. The tallest ever recorded in professional volleyball include Russian player Valeriya Kozlova (reportedly 6’11”) and various Chinese and Italian stars, though official measurements vary. Smrek’s height is identical to that of former Wisconsin teammate Dana Rettke, who went on to a successful pro career. What this means: Smrek’s vertical advantage is her most obvious asset, but her ability to convert that reach into kills — as she did with 20 against Louisville in 2021 — proves the height is functional, not just a stat.

Who are Anna Smrek’s parents and what is her ethnicity?

Smrek’s family background is well documented through university and local media sources. Her father, Michael Smrek, played basketball at Canisius College and later became part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA championship teams in the 1980s, as described in a Wisconsin Volleyball feature (team’s official YouTube channel). Her mother, Sanja Smrek, is named on the Wisconsin roster (official university page), but her personal background is not publicly detailed.

Anna Smrek’s father: NBA lineage

• Name: Michael (Mike) Smrek — Wisconsin Badgers roster
• Basketball career: Played at Canisius College (NY) — same source
• NBA connection: Two-time NBA champion with Los Angeles Lakers (1987, 1988) — Wisconsin Volleyball feature

Anna Smrek’s mother and ethnicity

The Wisconsin roster lists her mother as Sanja Smrek. No further biographical information was released by the university. Smrek’s surname is Polish, and she was born in Welland, Ontario, which is home to a sizable Polish-Canadian community. She represents Canada internationally, making her ethnicity Canadian of Polish descent.

What happened to Anna Smrek?

The most recent verifiable update on Smrek’s career comes from her 2024-25 senior season at Wisconsin. She was listed as a senior on the Badgers roster (2024 update), having already recorded a career-best 20-kill performance against Louisville in 2021. No injury reports or transfers have been officially announced.

Anna Smrek’s college career

• 2022-2024: Played for University of Wisconsin Badgers
• 2021: Recorded 20 kills vs Louisville (Dec 16) — Wisconsin match note
• Senior status: 2024-25 season — Wisconsin roster

The pattern: Smrek has progressed steadily through the Wisconsin program while maintaining eligibility. Her next move — whether to the professional ranks in Europe or Asia, or to the Canadian senior national team — has not been officially announced as of early 2026.

Who is the richest female volleyball player?

Professional women’s volleyball salaries are rarely disclosed, making any “richest” claim inherently speculative. High-profile players such as Zhu Ting (China) and Jordan Larson (USA) are often cited as among the highest earners, but exact figures are not publicly confirmed in official team statements or league records. Anna Smrek’s earnings are not available from any verified source. As an NCAA athlete, she was ineligible for professional pay until her college eligibility ended, though she could have signed name-image-likeness (NIL) deals. The trade-off: Without transparent salary data, comparisons of wealth among female volleyball players remain guesswork. Smrek’s market value will become clearer once she signs her first professional contract.

Who is the tallest girl in volleyball?

Height records in women’s volleyball are contested and often depend on when and how a player is measured. The tallest active players include several over 6’10”, such as Russian middle blocker Valeriya Kozlova (listed at 6’11” by some sources) and Turkish player Zehra Güneş (6’6″). Anna Smrek at 6’9″ is among the tallest in North America and would be one of the tallest players in most professional leagues.

Quotes and perspectives

“Anna Smrek is just over 6’8″ and touching close to 11 feet in her approach. She’s going to be a force at the net.”

— Wisconsin Volleyball signing-day feature (Wisconsin Badgers YouTube)

“Smrek’s father, Mike, was part of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship teams in the 1980s. He taught her about playing on the big stage.”

— Wisconsin Volleyball feature (Wisconsin Badgers YouTube)

For Canadian volleyball fans, Anna Smrek represents a rare combination of elite height, athletic pedigree, and proven NCAA production. Smrek’s next move will determine whether she becomes a household name in the professional game. The data says the foundation is solid; the future is hers to write.

Related coverage: kids shoe size guide fördjupar bilden av Kids Shoe Size Chart – UK EU CM Toddler Guide.

Frequently asked questions