It took just one season for Alyssa Thomas to reclaim her throne. After Caitlin Clark shattered Thomas’ all-time single-season assist record with 337 assists, it seemed like the crown might have slipped away. But Thomas wasn’t done. In 2025, she stormed back with 357 regular-season assists, not only breaking the record again but doing it with authority.

Her mastery didn’t stop there; she became the only player in WNBA history to average at least 15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting over 50% from the field in a season. It’s a level of excellence only matched by very few players. So how is she rewriting the record books with such ease? Let’s dive into the major reason behind her dominance. Her family.

Who Is Alyssa Thomas’ Mother, Tina Thomas?

Alyssa Thomas was born on April 12, 1992, to Tina Klotzbeecher-Thomas and Bobby Thomas in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Tina played Division II basketball at Millersville University and went on to be Alyssa’s high school coach at Milton Hershey School. “Since I first picked up a basketball, I’ve always wanted to play,” Tina says. 

Tina also spends her days teaching gifted students in the Harrisburg City School District. “The complete opposite of me,” Alyssa describes her mother with a laugh. “She is very talkative; kind of the life of the party. You can hear her a mile away. Just a loud lady.” And it played to Alyssa’s advantage, since she was so reserved as a child. 

Tina signed her up for basketball in the hope that she would come out of her shell. Clutching her mom’s leg at the sideline, face buried, she heard the nudge: “Go play.” She did, bursting from shy shadow to full-blown shockwave, just not the version her mom imagined. “She was a holy terror on the court,” Klotzbeecher-Thomas said. “And she absolutely loved it.”

Alyssa was hooked. Thomas was coached by her mother throughout grade school and AAU, and it was Alyssa’s involvement that took her love for the game to another level. “My love of this game, though, elevated when my daughter, Alyssa Thomas, started to play in elementary school. Coaching and cheering her on as she grew her own love of the game was something I am very grateful for.” Tina wrote. The engine behind “The Engine,” she built the triple‑double juggernaut.

“She’s a huge reason why I’m such a versatile player,”  Alyssa said. “From a young age, she had me playing one (point guard) through five (center). She always said you don’t know what position you’ll play when you get older. She always thought it would benefit me to learn every position.” However, it was not only her mother who played D2 basketball and guided her to success. Let’s look at the co-captain of the ship. 

Who Is Alyssa Thomas’ Father, Bob Thomas?

Bob Thomas also played at Millersville University, meeting Alyssa’s mother in the process.  While his wife coaches kids, Bob is a longtime Comcast Direct Sales Representative in Central Pennsylvania. 

“It is a priceless experience to see something your child has worked so hard for become a reality. Words can’t describe how proud we are of her and having the opportunity to attend in-person was so awesome!” Bob beamed after Alyssa won her first gold medal with the national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Does Alyssa Thomas Have Any Siblings?

Yes, Alyssa Thomas has two younger siblings, Alexia Thomas and Devin Thomas. Both of whom play basketball professionally. Devin played at the same school as Alyssa, the Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,714 points) and received 2-time first team All-State class AAAA honors. He went on to play for Wake Forest in college and shone there as well. 

In his 4 years, he averaged 11.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Devin went undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft and joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2016 NBA Summer League. Since then, he has been playing basketball internationally in and around Europe. Both Alyssa and Devin were successful, likely due to the competitive spirit they fostered in each other. Every Thomas family matchup, board games, Christmas card duels, or boys‑vs‑girls hoops, detonated into an “all‑out war.” 

“[Mom] wouldn’t even let us win at Candyland. She made us work for every win that we got,” Alyssa said. “It got way out of hand. We hated to lose, so we did whatever it took to get a win. That’s where I got a lot of my competitiveness from.”

Indoor was probably less intense when you compare the basketball battles between the siblings. A 10-foot-wide concrete driveway was enough for them to start an NBA-level rivalry. One-on-one contests in the front yard and down the street at the local community center used to be the norm for the talented Thomases, battles that Alyssa freely boasts about if you know how to ask her.

“He didn’t like that I would always beat him,” she said, smiling. As time went on, the tables turned, and Devin used to get the W’s more often than not as they got older. Alyssa was no slouch, and their mother had to step in to prevent them from getting injured. While it’s not mentioned in any of their interviews, Alexia Thomas, the youngest of the siblings, learned her ropes in this driveway as well. She started at the tender age of 4 and later followed her parents’ steps at Millersville University while majoring in psychology.