Alyssa Thomas has never been
ordinary. She has never conformed to the traditional archetypes
that have long defined basketball positions, nor has she allowed
physical limitations – most notably two torn labrums in her
shoulders – to dictate her game. Instead, she has rewritten the
rules of what a forward can be, becoming the WNBA’s most unique
playmaker, a relentless competitor whose power and precision leave
indelible marks on every contest.
Now, Thomas stands on the
precipice of the one achievement that has eluded her: a WNBA
championship. With the Phoenix Mercury, she is no longer just one
of the league’s most distinctive stars – she is the heartbeat of a
team that has fought its way past both of last year’s finalists,
the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, to sit just one series
away from hoisting the trophy.
The one-of-a-kind blueprint
Thomas’ game is a study in
contradictions. Listed at 6-foot-2, she is undersized compared to
most dominant forwards, yet she plays with a ferocity that makes
her feel much larger. She has no jump shot to speak of – her
chronic shoulder injuries have left her unable to lift her arms
fully above her head – yet she is among the WNBA’s most creative
offensive engines, manufacturing buckets through brute force,
footwork, and finesse around the rim.
What sets her apart, however, is
her vision. Thomas operates as a point forward in the truest sense,
initiating offense with the instincts of a guard while anchoring
the interior with her strength. No player in league history has
more triple-doubles than Thomas, who has piled them up not through
chasing numbers, but by simply playing the only way she knows:
involving everyone, rebounding relentlessly, and attacking
mismatches with precision.
Thomas is the ultimate
connector, and when she is on the floor, everyone gets easier
looks. Thomas is going to wear you down on both ends, and there’s
really no one else like her in the league.
Phoenix’s resurgence this season
The Mercury have long been
defined by legends, from Diana Taurasi’s scoring brilliance to
Brittney Griner’s dominance in the paint, Phoenix’s championship
pedigree has always been tied to its superstars But this season,
it’s Thomas’ tenacity and versatility that have become the
foundation of the Mercury’s title pursuit.
In the quarterfinals, Phoenix
knocked out the New York Liberty – a team that spent much of the
season viewed as the championship favorite. Thomas imposed her will
throughout the series, controlling tempo, dictating matchups, and
ensuring Phoenix never wilted against a roster loaded with
talent.
Then came the Minnesota Lynx,
last season’s runner-up, in the semifinals, a team known for
physicality and defensive toughness. Once again, Thomas proved to
be the difference, her relentless motor overwhelming Minnesota’s
interior presence while her passing picked apart their
rotations.
Now, Phoenix sits at the
doorstep of a championship. Thomas has emerged as the Mercury’s
lodestar – the player whose fingerprints are on every possession
and whose competitive fire fuels the group – along with capable
star teammates Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.
Redefining greatness and the reflection of a
leader
Thomas’ rise to this moment is
about redefining what greatness looks like in the WNBA. For
decades, the league’s superstars have often been bucket-getters –
high-scoring guards or dominant post players who could bend games
with sheer offensive output. Thomas represents a different
mold.
Her greatness is measured in the
connective tissue of the game: the rebound that sparks a fast
break, the no-look pass to a cutting teammate, the defensive
rotation that prevents a layup. She is the star who doesn’t need
the spotlight, the engine whose work is most felt in the way her
teammates shine brighter.
And yet, Thomas herself has
built a resume that cannot be ignored. She is the WNBA’s all-time
leader in triple-doubles, a perennial All-Star, and a force who
consistently pushes her teams to overachieve. Still, for all her
accolades, the absence of a championship has loomed large. With
Phoenix, that narrative has a chance to finally change.
It is no coincidence that
Phoenix’s postseason surge has mirrored the very qualities Thomas
embodies. The Mercury have played with resilience, grit, and
selflessness – the same hallmarks of Thomas’ game. Every possession
feels like a battle, and every victory has been earned through
effort rather than ease.
This title run is about Thomas
validating a career defined by sacrifice and unconventional
brilliance. Few players would have thrived without a jump shot in
today’s game, but Thomas has carved a path by emphasizing
everything else: defense, rebounding, playmaking, and leadership.
She has shown that dominance comes in many forms, and that
sometimes it is not just about the one filling up the scoring
column, but the one making sure everyone else is in position to
succeed.
Legacy in the making
The Mercury’s journey is not
complete. A championship series looms, either with the Indiana
Fever or 3-time MVP A’Ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces, and with
it, the most difficult test of all. Opponents will key in on
Thomas, daring Phoenix to find answers elsewhere. But Thomas has
spent her entire career proving doubters wrong, overcoming
obstacles that might have ended others’ careers, and finding ways
to impose her will regardless of circumstance.
This, perhaps, is her ultimate
chance to etch her name alongside the greats. Not just as the
triple-double queen, not just as the league’s most unique forward,
but as a champion.
If Phoenix completes this run,
it will be impossible to tell the story of the 2025 WNBA season
without Alyssa Thomas at its center. She has already changed the
way the game is played and understood, expanding the definition of
stardom and forcing observers to appreciate the value of
versatility.
Now, with the Mercury one step
away from glory, Thomas is poised to add the ultimate chapter to
her legacy. For a player who has done everything except win it all,
the moment has arrived. And if the past few weeks are any
indication, she is more than ready – because Alyssa Thomas has
never been ordinary – she has been extraordinary in every sense of
the word.
