In Tuesday night’s 82-66 victory over the Connecticut Sun, All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas propelled her team to a second consecutive win while continuing to climb the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA career leaderboards. During the game, Thomas earned a triple-double with 13 points, 12 assists, and 1 rebound, lifting her to 12th place on the all-time rebounds chart and 16th in steals in league history. This accomplishment underscores her growing impact in the league and establishes further proof of her remarkable season.
Unmatched Triple-Double Dominance Sets Thomas Apart in WNBA History
Thomas now holds 18 triple-doubles, a figure that towers over the rest of the WNBA, with Sabrina Ionescu trailing far behind at just four. To put this into perspective, triple-doubles remain rare in leagues featuring 40-minute regulation games, making Thomas’s achievements even more extraordinary. She accounts for 18 of the 48 triple-doubles ever recorded in the league’s history, representing nearly 39% of all such performances. No player in WNBA history has approached her level of box score dominance, making her a uniquely versatile and dynamic presence on the court.
Versatility and Athleticism Define Thomas’s Role with the Phoenix Mercury
Standing out as one of basketball’s most distinctive talents today, Thomas blends the skills of a legitimate point guard with the physical presence of a power forward. Her defensive abilities extend from guarding the low post to swiftly advancing the ball during fast breaks. This season marks her first with the Phoenix Mercury, where she has been steadily improving and setting new personal records week after week.
Back-to-Back Triple-Doubles Cement Thomas’s Place in WNBA History
During the game against Connecticut, Thomas secured her second straight triple-double, following a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist performance against the Chicago Sky. This feat places her among a select group, as only three players in WNBA history have recorded consecutive triple-doubles—and all three times it has been accomplished, it was by Alyssa Thomas, who managed the streak twice in 2023 alone. With her consistent performances, her triple-double record is quickly becoming one of the most unbreakable in the league’s history.
Climbing the Rebounds and Steals Charts Among Legendary Players
Thomas’s current career rebound total stands at 2,602, surpassing Sancho Lyttle, a former Mercury player and two-time Atlanta Dream All-Star known for leading the league in steals twice. Taj McWilliams-Franklin remains just ahead of Thomas with 3,013 rebounds, occupying the 11th spot. On the steals leaderboard, Thomas’s 530 steals have moved her past eight-time All-Star and former league and Finals MVP Yolanda Griffith, who played mainly with the Sacramento Monarchs and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in her 1999 MVP season. Thomas is nearing Courtney Vandersloot’s 15th place, trailing by only 14 steals, indicating she could soon rise even further.
Thomas’s Historic Impact Signals a New Era for the Mercury and WNBA
Alyssa Thomas’s unparalleled skill set and relentless drive continue to elevate her a step above her peers, both as a versatile point guard and a powerhouse forward. Her historic triple-double streak and steady advancement on key career leaderboards highlight her as one of the most influential figures in women’s basketball today. As she pushes boundaries this season with the Phoenix Mercury, her records are likely to inspire future players and redefine what’s possible in the WNBA. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how many more milestones Thomas will conquer as her career unfolds.