It’s that time when familiar faces turn into rivals. The Indiana Fever are set to take on the Phoenix Mercury, and it’s a reunion filled with storylines. While Sophie Cunningham faces her former team for the first time, it’s DeWanna Bonner’s return to Indiana that has dominated the headlines. That said, once the final buzzer sounds, all eyes will likely shift to her fiancée Alyssa Thomas, and for good reason!

The Phoenix Mercury have been one of the surprise packages this season. Even after losing four of their starting five, Nate Tibbetts’ squad has managed to stay competitive. What makes it even more impressive is that two of their big three–Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally have missed considerable time due to injuries.

But tonight was all about DeWanna Bonner making her return to Indiana for the first time since walking away from the Fever. After playing just nine games, Bonner opted out, citing it did not feel like the ‘right fit’ and how she “just wanted to be back home.” What was once seen as a marquee offseason signing quickly turned into a nightmare situation for the franchise when it became clear she might not have a starting role after getting replaced by Lexie Hull.

And as expected, the fans didn’t hold back. When DeWanna Bonner checked in for the first time, she was met with a chorus of boos, something that clearly didn’t sit well with Alyssa Thomas. The 17,000+ fans packed inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse made it their mission to create a hostile environment, and it eventually seemed to have gotten under Thomas’ skin. With a little under two minutes left in the opening quarter and the Mercury comfortably leading 25-13, Alyssa Thomas was caught in a heated moment with a fan.

Well, being voted as the biggest trash-talker in the league by her peers, she sure wasn’t letting that slide. Thomas has gotten a fan ejected for ‘making fun’ of Kahleah Copper’s wig before, hit the Fever fans with “she [Bonner] came to play for a real team,” and this time, had cameras pick up her saying, “f— you and that broomstick.”

While Bonner struggled to deal with the atmosphere, finishing the game with just 4 points on 1-4 shooting while grabbing just 1 rebound, her partner thrived in the chaos. Alyssa Thomas turned the noise into fuel, exploding for a career-high 32 points, along with 15 rebounds and 7 assists, becoming the first player since Candace Parker to get these numbers in a game.

Unfortunately for the Mercury, Alyssa Thomas’ monster night wasn’t enough to secure the win. The Fever edged them out 107-101 in a high-scoring battle. For head coach Nate Tibbetts, finding a way to integrate the big 3 along with DeWanna Bonner properly remains a challenge and a work in progress. With this defeat, the Mercury have now dropped four of their last five games. A troubling sign.

While the Mercury fans might have a lot to worry about because of their recent form, Alyssa Thomas continues to be a silver lining.

Alyssa Thomas for the MVP?

It goes without saying that Napheesa Collier is currently the outright favorite to win the MVP this year and rightfully so. She is putting up 23.5 and 7.7 rebounds per game and has the Lynx sitting at the top of the standings. But here’s the thing, if there’s one player who could actually give her a run for her money, it has to be Alyssa Thomas.

Alyssa Thomas has been in the MVP conversation before, finishing in the top 10 four times and earning six All-Star selections along the way. This season, she is averaging 15.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game. But if you look at her last three outings, those numbers get even more impressive.

Thomas has 79 points, 39 rebounds, and 23 assists in her last 3 games. If she continues to put up stat lines like these, you can’t help but wonder if Thomas will be in the discussion for MVP more often going forward this season. What are your thoughts on this?