With the WNBA season starting to wind down, it’s time to take a serious look at the MVP discussion. And oh, what a coincidence, the Mercury have a player who slots right into the conversation, and her name is Alyssa Thomas. Some flashier names such as Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier or Las Vegas’s A’ja Wilson are getting the majority of the headlines, but let’s not get it twisted. Thomas belongs at the table with those two, and perhaps should even be heading it.

On the season, Thomas is averaging a 15.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 9.2 assists for the year, pretty darn close to a triple-double (which we’ll get to later on). In part due to her contributions, the Mercury sit third in the West and fourth overall in a tight battle for the second seed in the playoffs. Best player on one of the best teams? Certainly a qualifier for MVP.

Playmaker

Alyssa Thomas is certifiably not a point guard. But much in a similar vein to other supersized playmakers, the Mercury offense runs through Thomas and largely has wherever she’s played. She’s the first player in WNBA history to have 300+ assists in three consecutive seasons, is the first player in WNBA history with five 15-assist games (previous record was three), and is on pace to record the record for most assists in a season in WNBA history.

Currently, Thomas leads the league in total assists and per game. Her 31 assists are most in a two-game stretch against the Valkyries and Sparks are the most in WNBA history too. For extra measure, she owns the single season Mercury record for assists now too.

“I’m happy that she finally got the franchise record, because I think she’s had 15 (assists) two or three times,” coach Nate Tibbetts said after Thomas set the Mercury’s single game assists record with 16 against Golden State. “I mean, what she does at both ends for us is special. I’m glad that she took a chance on coming here to Phoenix, and I’m really happy for her that she’s having such a great year.”

As of now, she currently sits at 314 assists, tied for 4th most in a season with Courtney Vandersloot and behind only herself and Caitlin Clark who set the all-time record last season (337). Right now she’s just 23 behind that all-time record. All she needs to do over the remaining five games is average 4.6 assists per game. It’s certainly doable given her season average and the fact it’s below her career average.

Thomas is also currently on pace to become the first player in WNBA history to average 15+ points, 8+ rebounds, 9+ assists and 1+ steals while shooting 50%+ from the field. The only NBA players to have done so? LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Nikola Jokić, all of whom have at least three MVPs to their names.

Triple-Doubles

It’s one thing to record a double-double. It may not happen every night, but a betting person would feel comfortable that it’ll happen in a game. The triple-double though, that’s a different story. If you’re mainly a follower of the NBA, you’re likely a bit numb to the triple-double. They happen seemingly every night by at least one player, and guys like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic seem like they have one every game.

But with the NBA game being eight minutes longer than a WNBA one, it makes it much easier for the men’s game to record this statistical feat. It’s why what Thomas is doing for the Mercury is so special. This season Thomas has recorded seven triple-doubles. While it took until July 7 for Thomas to get her first as a member of the Mercury, she hasn’t slowed down since, gathering six more on the season to match her career-high from 2023.

Seven triple-doubles might not seem like any sort of absurd number by itself. Remember though, the next closest is four… for an entire career, which belongs to New York’s Sabrina Ionescu. On her career, Thomas has 17 triple-doubles, accounting for 39% of all of them in WNBA history! It’s absurd and sounds like MVP stuff to me. The Mercury are also undefeated when Thomas records a triple-double.

“I think she’s just too tough to guard,” teammate Kahleah Copper said. “She can score. You really want to take away her vision because she can pass, and then it’s just a matchup problem every night. It just makes it so much easier for us, like, we don’t have to force it. She can just make plays, I can just be off the ball, like, it makes it just so much easier.”

Defense

Over the years, Thomas has become one of the most well-respected defenders in the WNBA. With three top-3 Defensive Player of the Year finishes and six All-Defensive Team awards to her name, it’s no wonder she’s regularly matched up with the opposing team’s best players every night. The defensive heartbeat of the Mercury, Thomas blends physical tools with an intelligence on that end of the floor unmatched by many of her rivals.

This year she’s averaging 1.6 steals a night and on her career has never averaged less than one per game aside from 2021 when she appeared in just three games. Thomas can anticipate plays before they develop and it serves her well in playing passing lanes or preventing drives to the hoop.

“No one impacts the game on both ends more,” teammate Sami Whitcomb said. “She’s the biggest part of why we win every single night. Most consistent, she’s the MVP.”

The Mercury are keen to playing at a fast pace, and Thomas’ defense is key to getting the team out and running. Whether it’s through forcing a turnover, altering shots or grabbing a defensive rebound, Thomas is always looking to ignite a fast break for some easy points. In an age of basketball defined by elite scorers, Thomas is the rare entity who can provide on both ends of the floor.

“I think there’s three great candidates, or three great players,” Tibbetts said. “The thing that I love about AT is she does it at both ends. You could argue that the other two do it also, but what she’s done for us defensively is special. AT does it in a different way, right? She doesn’t do it with the scoring, so her numbers, her scoring average isn’t high, but she does it with assists, and she does it with her rebounding.

“Obviously, coaches are always going to push their players. I think she’s been overlooked this year. She’s probably been overlooked her whole career when it comes to the MVP-type race, but she knows how important she is to us. She knows how important she is to the Valley and how much we appreciate her, and she’s just a special, special talent, and we’re all lucky to be watching her each and every game.”