On Friday night in Phoenix, Alissa Thomas made history as the Phoenix Mercury defeated the reigning champions, the New York Liberty, 79-73, and advanced to the WNBA Playoffs semifinals.

The six-time All-Star posted her first postseason triple-double, with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, showing dominance in every facet of the game.

It was Thomas’s fifth playoff triple-double of her career and the seventh in league history. She now has nine triple-doubles this season – more than any other player has in their entire WNBA career.

“Is this AT’s first triple-double of the season?” joked Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts after the game. “That’s exactly what she does. She influences the game in many ways. All she cares about is winning.”

– Nate Tibbetts

“When a team has a star like that, with such pride in winning and willingness to do whatever it takes, you get a truly great team,” the coach said after the game.

Two days after a brilliant performance in the second game, Satou Sabally added 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Kayla Cooper contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds, and Saimi Vitkam scored 13 points – giving Phoenix their first playoff-series win since 2021.

DeWanna Bonner’s eighth rebound vaulted her past Candace Parker’s all-time playoff record – 614 rebounds.

In New York, Brianna Stewart scored 30 points despite a left knee MCL strain in the first game. This moved her into the list of players with the most 30+ point playoff games – eight such games.

Sabrina Ionescu scored 22 points, but the Liberty’s other players did not exceed eight points.

The game turned into a storm of lead changes: the lead changed 13 times in the first three quarters, but the Mercury seized a 60-59 lead entering the fourth quarter and, despite Stewart’s 14 points in the final minutes, held on to the lead.

“AT is incredible. The way she really raised her game to a nightmare level all over the court,” said a disappointed Stewart of Thomas’s performance. “She has a triple-double every night, so there is a great deal of respect between the two sides.”

– Brianna Stewart

Phoenix, the fourth seed, will face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals after they defeated the Golden State Valkyries in two games. The five-game series will begin at Target Center on Sunday.