Game 3 between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx was nothing short of eventful. Kahleah Copper getting called for a technical for taunting to Cheryl Reeve getting ejected served as major distractions in a game that was close until the 3rd quarter. To make matters worse, the Lynx’s star player, Napheesa Collier, went down with an injury and left her future availability under a cloud of doubt. Amidst all this, it became easy to forget that Alyssa Thomas walked off the court as a record-breaker.

Alyssa Thomas recorded 21 Points, 9 Rebounds, 8 Assists, 5 Steals, and 2 Blocks during Game 3. The Phoenix Mercury star became the “only player with multiple playoff games of 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals”. Additionally, Thomas passed Sue Bird for the second-most assists (367 as of Game 3 of the semifinals) in WNBA playoff history through the score he accumulated.

Before Game 3, Alyssa Thomas had stated during an interview that, “They’re mad about game 2, we gotta be ready”. They most certainly were ready. Thomas recorded her highest score of this ongoing playoff series by shooting 9-18 (50.0%) field goals, 0-0 (0%) 3-pointers, and 3-4 (75.0%) free throws. Thomas added 11 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds in the first half itself! Yes, the records didn’t come to notice, but she gained attention during the game for the wrong reasons.

Napheesa Collier was injured after Thomas swiped the ball from Collier with 23.8 seconds left in Game 3. Thomas reportedly appeared to have made incidental contact with Collier’s knee, which resulted in Collier turning her left ankle. No foul was called on the play, which angered Reeve and ultimately led to her ejection after she chased after the referee.

No matter what happened, Alyssa Thomas still set some memorable records. Players like her serve as an example of why the Phoenix Mercury should not be underestimated, and all those ESPN comments have come back to haunt the legacy media house. It is a fact that Satou Sabally wanted to make clear.

Satou Sabally Gave Flowers to Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper Amid ‘Underdog’ Status

After Game 3, Satou Sabally, along with Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, participated in a presser. A reporter asked during the same time why the Mercury squad embraces being the underestimated ones. In response, Sabally said:

“We started out the season, I think, ESPN, all of them, they ranked us really low. And I feel, to me, it’s a disrespect towards those two (points at Thomas and Copper). They’re gold medalists, they’re All-Stars, and to put that type of disrespect towards people who have literally been in the league for so long, has won a championship, that just fuelled us. And we’re the underdogs. We have something to prove to ourselves more than others.”

After Diana Taurasi’s retirement and Brittney Griner’s exit, doubts were raised about the Phoenix Mercury’s future. The ESPN crew, consisting of Alexa Philippou, Kendra Andrews, and Michael Voepel, gave their thoughts, with Philippou praising the trio of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper, but also questioning the team’s depth. Kendra Andrews added that “It’s easier said than done to start over, no matter how talented the free agents you landed are.”

In that same report, Andrews added, “The organization has spoken highly about how well Sabally, Thomas, and Copper will play next to each other, but how much time will it take to adjust? I’m curious if the Mercury will have to rely heavily on their big trio, because, as Alexa said, Phoenix lacks depth and experience otherwise.”

Fortunately, the trio was enough to handle things. Alyssa Thomas became the Mercury’s 3rd highest average scorer this season, as he averaged 15.4 points, along with 8.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists, through 6.2-11.6 (53.2%) field goals, 0.0-0.2 (0.0%) 3-pointers, and 3.0-4.3 (69.2%) free throws. With her 17.8 points average over the last 6 games, Thomas is the Mercury’s highest average scorer in the ongoing playoffs. This was proof enough for Sabally to show that the Phoenix Mercury should not be underestimated.

With Alyssa Thomas and Co. just one more win away from the Finals, the Minnesota Lynx will look to give their best. Whether the 33-year-old power forward will rise to the challenge is something that remains to be seen.