Alyssa Thomas has never been ordinary. She has never conformed to the traditional archetypes that have long defined basketball positions, nor has she allowed physical limitations – most notably two torn labrums in her shoulders – to dictate her game. Instead, she has rewritten the rules of what a forward can be, becoming the WNBA’s most unique playmaker, a relentless competitor whose power and precision leave indelible marks on every contest.

Now, Thomas stands on the precipice of the one achievement that has eluded her: a WNBA championship. With the Phoenix Mercury, she is no longer just one of the league’s most distinctive stars – she is the heartbeat of a team that has fought its way past both of last year’s finalists, the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, to sit just one series away from hoisting the trophy.

The one-of-a-kind blueprint

Thomas’ game is a study in contradictions. Listed at 6-foot-2, she is undersized compared to most dominant forwards, yet she plays with a ferocity that makes her feel much larger. She has no jump shot to speak of – her chronic shoulder injuries have left her unable to lift her arms fully above her head – yet she is among the WNBA’s most creative offensive engines, manufacturing buckets through brute force, footwork, and finesse around the rim.

What sets her apart, however, is her vision. Thomas operates as a point forward in the truest sense, initiating offense with the instincts of a guard while anchoring the interior with her strength. No player in league history has more triple-doubles than Thomas, who has piled them up not through chasing numbers, but by simply playing the only way she knows: involving everyone, rebounding relentlessly, and attacking mismatches with precision.

Thomas is the ultimate connector, and when she is on the floor, everyone gets easier looks. Thomas is going to wear you down on both ends, and there’s really no one else like her in the league.

Phoenix’s resurgence this season

The Mercury have long been defined by legends, from Diana Taurasi’s scoring brilliance to Brittney Griner’s dominance in the paint, Phoenix’s championship pedigree has always been tied to its superstars But this season, it’s Thomas’ tenacity and versatility that have become the foundation of the Mercury’s title pursuit.

In the quarterfinals, Phoenix knocked out the New York Liberty – a team that spent much of the season viewed as the championship favorite. Thomas imposed her will throughout the series, controlling tempo, dictating matchups, and ensuring Phoenix never wilted against a roster loaded with talent. 

Then came the Minnesota Lynx, last season’s runner-up, in the semifinals, a team known for physicality and defensive toughness. Once again, Thomas proved to be the difference, her relentless motor overwhelming Minnesota’s interior presence while her passing picked apart their rotations.

Now, Phoenix sits at the doorstep of a championship. Thomas has emerged as the Mercury’s lodestar – the player whose fingerprints are on every possession and whose competitive fire fuels the group – along with capable star teammates Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.

Redefining greatness and the reflection of a leader

Thomas’ rise to this moment is about redefining what greatness looks like in the WNBA. For decades, the league’s superstars have often been bucket-getters – high-scoring guards or dominant post players who could bend games with sheer offensive output. Thomas represents a different mold.

Her greatness is measured in the connective tissue of the game: the rebound that sparks a fast break, the no-look pass to a cutting teammate, the defensive rotation that prevents a layup. She is the star who doesn’t need the spotlight, the engine whose work is most felt in the way her teammates shine brighter.

And yet, Thomas herself has built a resume that cannot be ignored. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, a perennial All-Star, and a force who consistently pushes her teams to overachieve. Still, for all her accolades, the absence of a championship has loomed large. With Phoenix, that narrative has a chance to finally change.

It is no coincidence that Phoenix’s postseason surge has mirrored the very qualities Thomas embodies. The Mercury have played with resilience, grit, and selflessness – the same hallmarks of Thomas’ game. Every possession feels like a battle, and every victory has been earned through effort rather than ease.

This title run is about Thomas validating a career defined by sacrifice and unconventional brilliance. Few players would have thrived without a jump shot in today’s game, but Thomas has carved a path by emphasizing everything else: defense, rebounding, playmaking, and leadership. She has shown that dominance comes in many forms, and that sometimes it is not just about the one filling up the scoring column, but the one making sure everyone else is in position to succeed.

Legacy in the making

The Mercury’s journey is not complete. A championship series looms, either with the Indiana Fever or 3-time MVP A’Ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces, and with it, the most difficult test of all. Opponents will key in on Thomas, daring Phoenix to find answers elsewhere. But Thomas has spent her entire career proving doubters wrong, overcoming obstacles that might have ended others’ careers, and finding ways to impose her will regardless of circumstance.

This, perhaps, is her ultimate chance to etch her name alongside the greats. Not just as the triple-double queen, not just as the league’s most unique forward, but as a champion.

If Phoenix completes this run, it will be impossible to tell the story of the 2025 WNBA season without Alyssa Thomas at its center. She has already changed the way the game is played and understood, expanding the definition of stardom and forcing observers to appreciate the value of versatility.

Now, with the Mercury one step away from glory, Thomas is poised to add the ultimate chapter to her legacy. For a player who has done everything except win it all, the moment has arrived. And if the past few weeks are any indication, she is more than ready – because Alyssa Thomas has never been ordinary – she has been extraordinary in every sense of the word.