At risk of it being a little too early to say it, let's just get it out of the way: leaving the Sun for the Mercury was the right decision for Alyssa Thomas, and the WNBA is all the better for it. Thomas, who departed the team where she'd spent her entire career as part of a four-team trade earlier this year, has electrified the court down in Phoenix — and that's with her spending a good chunk of her time injured.
Thomas is well-known for her defensive prowess. She was drafted as the No. 4 overall pick by the Liberty in the 2014 WNBA Draft after a strong collegiate career in Maryland, and has since been named a WNBA All-Star five times, to the All-WNBA First Team twice, to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team twice, to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team four times, and is a 10-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
She sent Mercury fans into a frenzy with her team debut on May 17 when she and Satou Sabally combined for 47 points. Thomas had 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in 30 minutes of play, a proper introduction for Phoenix and the team's fans.
Thomas has also had the opportunity to showcase her other skills: she's a true tone setter and floor general, and brings relentless energy to her team. And while she's had a reputation for being a bit argumentative in the past, Thomas is taking full advantage of her new home and environment and doing what she does best: playing extremely excellent basketball.
Now that teammate Kahleah Copper is back on the floor (Copper has been out all season after having knee surgery earlier this year), she, Sabally, and Thomas have the opportunity to do something special and merge into a three-headed beast that puts the rest of the league on notice.
Ahead of the regular season, Coach Nate Tibbets told reporters the team has been working a "positionless" basketball scheme, and that Thomas in particular will serve multiple roles this season (the point guard, power forward, and center). It's already become abundantly clear that Tibbets had a little more than an outline in mind; his plan is being enforced, and now that the team is healthy, he can really see the vision to fruition. Thomas will be at the forefront of that charge, likely deliving the baskets the Mercury needs as well as the energy that keeps the team (and fans) motivated and enthralled.
It's only mid-June and it's already been a great season for Alyssa Thomas... and something makes us think that there's no slowing her down this year.