Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas made history in the WNBA on Thursday night by becoming the first player ever to achieve three consecutive triple-doubles. The seasoned nine-year player scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and handed out 10 assists in Mercury’s commanding 95-60 win over the Indiana Fever, marking Phoenix’s third straight win. Thomas secured the record with an assist on Dewan Nabonner’s three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.
This triple-double was the 19th of Thomas’ career, showcasing her dominance in this area, far surpassing the previous record held by Sabrina Ionescu, who has four. Reflecting on her achievement, Thomas credited her teammates for their support, saying, “Just a great honor. A lot of credit to my teammates. They helped me get this tonight, but more people can’t say it about anything as much as ever.”
Having spent the first eight seasons of her career with the Connecticut Sun, Thomas is now in her first year with the Mercury and has maintained at least a double-double in her last seven games. The 33-year-old Maryland graduate averages 15.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 9.2 assists over 25 games this season. The Mercury hold a 19-11 record, tied for third place in the league after 30 games, six games behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. They have already matched last season’s win total.
Thomas added, “We’re just leaning against each other. This season we’ve faced a lot of adversity, injuries, the nature of that. I think we’ve just started hitting the second wind.”
Fan Take: Alyssa Thomas’ historic performance underscores her extraordinary versatility and leadership, setting a new benchmark in the WNBA. This milestone not only highlights individual excellence but also elevates the visibility and excitement around the league, inspiring rising talent and fans alike.
