No one expected the Phoenix Mercury to be in the playoffs after losing the likes of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. They had to change ten players from last year’s side and had just one returning starter from last season in Kahleah Copper. But despite that, the Mercury fought their way to the finals all thanks to their engine, the triple-double queen Alyssa Thomas.

Thomas’ journey to the top hasn’t been easy. She’s battled a torn labrum in both shoulders since 2017 and even came back from a ruptured Achilles in just nine months in 2021. Since then, she’s finished top five in MVP voting four straight years (2022–25). Thomas is simply indestructible. “I’ve been chasing a championship for a long time, and I believe this is our moment,” she said. Her wait for that title continues with the Mercury down 0-2, but that didn’t stop her from making WNBA history.

According to I Talk Hoops on X, even though Alyssa Thomas had her least productive playoff game of this magical run–finishing with just 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists–she officially passed Courtney Vandersloot to become the WNBA’s all-time leader in playoff assists.

Alyssa Thomas had become a nightmare for every Mercury playoff opponent. At the top of the key, she’s always ready to run an inverted pick-and-roll. Give her an inch, and she bulldozes to the rim–just ask Alanna Smith of the Lynx, who got spun around in Game 4 of the semifinals. Try to stop her drive, and she’ll find an open shooter faster than you can blink. And, as you’d expect, this isn’t the only record she’s set this season.

• Alyssa Thomas racked up 357 assists in the 2025 regular season, breaking the WNBA single-season record and passing Caitlin Clark, who had 337 last year. And it’s not a one-off–Thomas also had 317 assists in 2024 (third all-time) and 316 in 2023 (fourth all-time). The next closest forward? Gabby Williams, way down at 71st with 185. That shows just how insane Thomas’ passing has been.
• Thomas averaged 9.154 assists per game in the 2025 regular season, the second-highest single-season mark in WNBA history–just behind Vandersloot’s perfect 10.0.
• Alyssa Thomas generated 892 points through her assists in the 2025 regular season, setting a new WNBA single-season record. To put it in perspective, she led second-place Veronica Burton by 231 points–the same gap that separated second from 11th place.
• Did you think we forgot about the triple-double records? Absolutely not! Alyssa Thomas has 19 regular-season triple-doubles, the most all-time in WNBA history. No other player has more than four. To put it in perspective, her 19 triple-doubles equal the combined total of the next nine players on the career leaderboard. That’s not all!
• Out of 51 regular-season triple-doubles ever in the WNBA, Thomas accounts for 37% of them.
• Thomas has 5 playoff triple-doubles, the most in WNBA history. Only Sheryl Swoopes and Vandersloot have managed one to date.

While Thomas has had a phenomenal postseason, the Aces have managed to keep her largely in check. Credit goes to Becky Hammon for devising ways to contain this superstar so far.

Becky Hammon manages to keep Alyssa Thomas quiet so far

Before Game 2, Hammon didn’t hold back her admiration for Thomas and all she’s achieved. “I think Alyssa Thomas is probably the one player in the league that could switch and play professional football,” Hammon said. “I can’t really simulate her. 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.”

Despite the high praise, the Aces have managed to keep Thomas under control. In Game 1, she scored five points and dished out three assists in the second half, down from 10 points and six assists in the first half. The halftime tweak? Hammon switched to a zone defense, clogging the middle and keeping Thomas from dictating the tempo.

Thomas had a chance to steal Game 1 but missed her free throws. Fans expected her to come roaring back in Game 2, but she never really got going, finishing with her least productive playoff outing of this postseason, as mentioned earlier. Hammon’s tactics are clearly working against her. Can Coach Tibbetts find a way to get more out of Thomas? That’s something we’ll have to wait and see.

Do you think Alyssa Thomas can bounce back and lead the Mercury to a win at home? Share your thoughts in the comments below!