Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts knew the odds were stacked against him. Down 0-3 in the Finals, he spoke after Game 3, saying his team just had to take it “one game at a time.” No team in league history had ever climbed out of such a hole, but the Mercury had made a habit of defying the odds this postseason. Still, this challenge felt different. Tibbetts was already without his top scorer, Satou Sabally. But when Game 4 tipped off, things went from bad to worse. Alyssa Thomas, the team’s heartbeat, has now gone down with an injury.

In the closing moments of the second quarter, with the Aces cruising ahead 54-38, disaster struck for the Mercury. Alyssa Thomas appeared to injure her shoulder while trying to stop Jackie Young and colliding with an illegal screen set by Jewell Loyd. She immediately winced in pain and dropped to the floor, staying down for several minutes before being helped off the court and escorted to the locker room.

According to reporter Khristina Williams, the injury appears to be on her right shoulder, a worrying sign given her injury history. Alyssa Thomas has battled torn labrums in both shoulders since 2017 and even made a remarkable comeback from a ruptured Achilles in just nine months in 2021. She reportedly intends to have surgery on her shoulders someday, but not right now, as the lengthy rehab process could seriously derail her career.

Because of her shoulder issues, she was never able to develop into a consistent free-throw or three-point shooter, shooting just 65.1% from the line and going 1-for-26 from beyond the arc in her career, per ESPN. But if this latest injury turns out to be serious, she might finally have no choice but to undergo surgery.

But with the Mercury on the brink of elimination, the question on everyone’s mind is — will Thomas return to the court for the remainder of the game? Here’s what we know.

Will Alyssa Thomas see any more action in Game 4?

The Mercury’s big three of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and the returning Kahleah Copper powered the team to 27 wins, their best mark since 2015, and only the second time in franchise history they’ve surpassed 25 victories. At the heart of all their success has been the team’s engine, Alyssa Thomas, who flirted with triple-doubles all season. She notched eight this year alone, making history as the first player in franchise history to record three consecutive triple-doubles.

Of course, with her sidelined alongside the Mercury’s top postseason scorer, Satou Sabally, fans were understandably worried. But there’s some good news. According to Burn City Sports on X, which exclusively covers Phoenix sports, Thomas was spotted back on the bench before the second half with her right shoulder heavily taped.

According to the same page, she was expected to see action in the second half — and she did just that. Thomas finished the game with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, along with 12 rebounds and 10 assists, notching her sixth triple-double of her playoff career in 40 minutes on the court.

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Even battling through her injury, Thomas couldn’t lift the Mercury to victory. The team fell 86-97, marking the third Finals loss of her career — and the second against the Aces. Losing Satou Sabally proved too heavy a blow, ultimately ending the Mercury’s championship hopes and closing out a WNBA season packed with drama, intensity, and unforgettable moments.