{"id":194132,"date":"2025-09-02T12:49:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T12:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/194132\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T12:49:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T12:49:15","slug":"wnba-veteran-is-quietly-making-history-and-a-strong-mvp-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/194132\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA veteran is (quietly) making history \u2014 and a strong MVP case"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alyssa Thoma<\/a>s has always been overlooked.<\/p>\n

The longtime Connecticut Sun<\/a> star, now in her first season with the Phoenix Mercury<\/a>, is the WNBA\u2019s all-time leader in triple-doubles and a perennial MVP candidate who has never actually brought home the hardwood.<\/p>\n

It will certainly be tricky, as Minnesota Lynx centerpiece Napheesa Collier<\/a> and Las Vegas Aces star A\u2019ja Wilson<\/a> are both having career years and have propelled their teams to the top of the standings. Collier (23.5 points per game) and Wilson (23.4 points per game) lead the league in scoring and currently have the league\u2019s two best team records (32-8 and 26-14, respectively).<\/p>\n

But Thomas has built a strong case in her own right.<\/p>\n

For one, the versatile forward has accrued several WNBA records this season. She\u2019s recorded more triple-doubles (7) in one season than any player in WNBA history. Earlier this month, she became the first player ever to record 3 consecutive triple-doubles. And, with 5 games left to play, Thomas is just 20 assists removed from breaking Caitlin Clark\u2019s record for most assists in a season (337).<\/p>\n

Then, there are the franchise records. In year one in Phoenix, Thomas has already become the franchise\u2019s all-time rebounding leader \u2014 and is the WNBA\u2019s third-leading rebounder, behind only Wilson and Angel Reese<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alyssa Thomas is having her best season yet<\/p>\n

In 2023, Alyssa Thomas tallied more first-place MVP votes than any player in the WNBA, but ultimately lost the award to A\u2019ja Wilson. That season, Thomas averaged 15.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.9 assists, shooting 47.4% from the field.<\/p>\n

This season, she\u2019s actually increased that production. She\u2019s averaging 15.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 1.6 steals. At 32, she\u2019s recording her highest assist average ever, as well as her most efficient season, shooting 53.9% from the field.<\/p>\n

And, Thomas\u2019s Mercury are 25-14, owners of the league\u2019s fourth-best record. Without her, they are 2-3 this season. Phoenix is surging \u2014 they\u2019ve won six of seven games \u2014 and Thomas is routinely at the center of the success.<\/p>\n

Last week, Mercury head coach Nate Thibbets<\/a> donned an \u201cAT for MVP\u201d T-shirt and explained that Thomas\u2019s MVP case extends beyond the stat sheet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think just her commitment to the defensive end on each and every possession\u2026 when there\u2019s a defensive rebound, and her momentum is taking her toward the other end to start leading the break, I think that\u2019s one of the most special things about her,\u201d Thibbets told reporters, per PHNX Mercury.<\/p>\n

Then, he dove into one of Thomas\u2019s defining qualities: her seemingly unparalleled ability to secure loose balls.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other night, against Chicago, there were 6 seconds to go, they had a chance to cut it to two, free throw goes up, it\u2019s a missed free throw, it\u2019s a loose ball,\u201d Thibbets said. \u201cThere are 6 people around the basketball, and who comes up with it? Alyssa Thomas.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season, no WNBA player is responsible for more offensive production (points plus assists) than Thomas. With Thomas on the floor, the Mercury have a 98.5 defensive rating. As a team, the Mercury have the third-best defense in the league, after finishing with the 9th-best defensive rating last season.<\/p>\n

Still, it might not be enough for an MVP award, though it\u2019d be a travesty if Thomas finishes her career without ever having received one, considering all that she\u2019s accomplished in the WNBA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she deserves it,\u201d Thibbets said. \u201cObviously, there are other people who are in the mix, too. The shitty part for her is she\u2019s been overlooked probably her whole career, and it\u2019s important for us to keep winning to keep that alive, in my opinion, because she deserves all the credit that she\u2019s getting.\u201d<\/p>\n

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