In a season defined by off-court controversies and the Phoenix Mercury’s disappointment, Alyssa Thomas finally has something to celebrate despite a team loss. As the Mercury fell 104-100 to the Minnesota Lynx on Monday, Thomas etched her name in the history books as the second player, after Diana Taurasi, to have 4000+ points, 2000+ assists, and 2000+ rebounds in her WNBA career.

The Phoenix Mercury took to their X to share this record alert, while recognizing that both these players of the exclusive bracket are Mercury players. “Two legends at the top, and they’re both with us 😏” the post’s caption read.

Taurasi, a franchise icon who spent her entire WNBA career with Phoenix, concluded it as the league’s all-time leading scorer with 10,659 points and three titles. Taurasi is a benchmark in the history of this league.

Meanwhile, Thomas is following the same career blueprint. Since being drafted out of the University of Maryland by the New York Liberty, she has won the WNBA Peak Performer award twice, while adding six All-Star nominations to her record. She is solidifying her status with a finals run in her first season with Phoenix and now with this record. Thomas has notched a total of 4,801 points across 13 seasons in the W.

Thomas also holds the record for most games with 15+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists (87 as per StatMuse), surpassing Taurasi’s prior mark

In this season alone, Thomas has been the team’s most efficient playmaker. Thomas leads the league in assists (8.0 per game) while averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds — a skill set that defines her value to Phoenix.

Thomas’ stat line included 19 points with 8 of 14 in shooting, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds. While her performance against Minnesota helped her enter the exclusive club, it wasn’t enough to save the day for Phoenix.

Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner even chimed in well behind Thomas’ double-double, combining for 43 points. But behind Kayla McBride’s 37 points and Olivia Miles’ 33 points, the Lynx were just an outright better team on Monday.

With this loss, the Mercury have now lost four consecutive games for the third time in the season. The finalists from last season are far from their dominant selves this season, sitting seventh in the Western Conference. Nevertheless, Alyssa Thomas still hasn’t lost hope of a major turnaround moving forward into the season.

Alyssa Thomas Is Eying One Final Push to Make It to the Playoffs

Despite being a veteran-laden squad, the Mercury’s playoff chances are dwindling at the moment. They have already suffered 17 losses, including the Minnesota game, with only eight wins. Furthermore, their defensive flaws persist throughout the season, as reflected in their 109.5 defensive rating.

Yet despite these struggles, Alyssa Thomas isn’t losing hope of a playoff bout. In her latest press conference, the Phoenix forward clearly laid out this roadmap.

“I mean, any moment for us at this point is important,” Thomas said, per The IX Sports reporter Aya Abdeen.

“You know, this is the make-or-break point of the season. Whether or not you’re going to make that final push to try to get one of those playoff positions. You need games like this to come down to the stretch, and once again, it goes their way. It just seems to be the epitome of the season”

For most of the season, the Mercury has thrived on individual brilliance. Kahleah Copper is having a stellar season, averaging 20+ points per game. Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Natasha Mack are also producing impressive numbers.

But to make the playoffs, these players will have to contribute like a team. And to make things tougher, they need to do it fast because they can’t afford to lose consecutive games anymore. Thomas will square off against her former team, the Connecticut Sun, in the next two games at the Mortgage Matchup Center on July 17 and 19. Mercury fans hope that her record-breaking season contributes to Phoenix’s push towards the playoffs.