Phoenix Mercury defeats Seattle Storm with stellar performance by Alyssa Thomas
In an exciting match, the Phoenix Mercury achieved a crucial victory against the Seattle Storm with a score of 85-82. The game, which broke a two-game losing streak for the Mercury, also tarnished “Sue Bird Forever Day”, a tribute to the legendary former Storm star, Sue Bird, with the unveiling of a statue in her honor. The key figure of the match was Alyssa Thomas, who achieved her fifth triple-double of the season. Thomas scored 19 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed 10 rebounds, demonstrating once again her versatility and dominance on the court. Thomas was fundamental in a crucial 6-0 run for Phoenix, after Seattle took their only lead in the game with a score of 78-77. His final scores and his tenth rebound, which completed the triple-double, occurred at that decisive moment. Despite the Storm’s efforts, including two turnovers by the Mercury in the final seconds that gave them a chance to tie, Phoenix managed to hold the lead and secure the victory, thus remaining in fourth place in the WNBA standings, tied with the Las Vegas Aces.Thomas’s fifth triple-double, the fourth in seven August games, equals the combined total of all other WNBA players this season. No other player has recorded multiple triple-doubles in 2025. In addition, Thomas is just one away from her own record for most triple-doubles in a season, set in 2023 while playing for the Connecticut Sun.“She is physical, intelligent, and makes timely plays. When you have an athlete like that who plays hard on every possession, she is going to continue to impact the game the way she does. She did all three things at a high level,” commented Seattle coach Noelle Quinn.
Noelle Quinn, Seattle coach
Sami Whitcomb, Thomas’ teammate, who scored 15 points in place of Monique Akoa Makani, who missed the game due to a left knee injury, which is day-to-day, could only express her amazement at Thomas’ recent triple-double.“It’s definitely not something I’m thinking about. For me, I just want to win. We’ve had ups and downs in the second half, so for me, it’s just pacing myself and going out and trying to win the basketball game,” Thomas said.
Alyssa Thomas
Two of Whitcomb’s three three-pointers were assisted by Thomas.“No, you don’t get used to that. It’s one of those things like when you see the attention that each game receives and the different things that people are throwing at her and at us. That it keeps happening is a credit to what she does, her preparation from one game to another, from one team to another and from one scheme to another,” Whitcomb said.
Sami Whitcomb
Thomas herself seems to be the only person not impressed by her game.“She’s still finding us, she’s still giving us these open shots. It’s so fun to play with her and she’s still very impressive,” Whitcomb said.
Sami Whitcomb
“I’m just being myself. Throughout my career, I’ve just tried to do a little bit of everything, whether it’s on offense or defense. I just let the game come to me. Every game is different,” she stated.
Alyssa Thomas
