Alyssa Thomas is the focal point of everything Phoenix does on both ends of the court. So, the Aces have to figure out how to limit her. In Game 1, switching to a zone defense was the perfect answer for the Aces. A zone defense isn’t something you often encounter in professional basketball, so it rattled the Mercury. It also allowed the Aces to protect Dana Evans and not give Thomas too many opportunities to pick on her in the pick-and-roll. Thomas still finished the game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, but did most of her damage in the first half.
The Mercury should be more prepared to beat the Aces’ zone in Game 2. So, Becky Hammon has to prepare other ways of defending Thomas. That is easier said than done. When Hammon spoke to the media during practice, she revealed the problem Thomas poses, even between games.
“I can’t really simulate her,” Hammon told reporters. “We try to get the guys to do stuff, but she’s just a different animal in our league. There’s nobody like her [who does] what she does and how she does it.”
Alyssa Thomas’s skill set is very unique
For the past three seasons, Alyssa Thomas has been close to averaging a triple-double. In 2023, she averaged 15.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game for the Connecticut Sun. In the following season, she put up 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Her first season with the Mercury saw her average 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and a career-high 9.2 assists.
That is not an easy thing to do—or a common one. Many WNBA players have recorded a triple-double, but never as many as Thomas. Seven players have recorded more than one triple-double in the regular season so far. Chelsea Gray, Courtney Williams, and Jackie Young each recorded two. Candace Parker and Caitlin Clark both did it three times. Sabrina Ionescu recorded four triple-doubles. Alyssa Thomas leads the list with 19.
The list of players who recorded a triple-double in the playoffs is even more exclusive. Sheryl Swoopes and Courtney Vandersloot did it once each. Thomas has done it five times already.
Thomas isn’t just incredibly skilled in pretty much every aspect of the game. She is also a very physical and strong player. That combination makes her difficult to guard, and a unique challenge. There’s a reason Thomas has been an MVP candidate for several years now.
The Aces have the best defensive big in the league
One thing that works in the Aces’ favor is that they have one of the few defenders who can hold her own against Alyssa Thomas. A’ja Wilson is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. She has a size advantage over Thomas and is incredibly athletic. Wilson can match up with Thomas better than most other players in the league.
On top of that, the Aces don’t have many small guards Thomas can pick on.