Thomas, historic triple-double: Mercury eliminates Liberty and advances

Get ready for a new champion in the WNBA in 2025! Alyssa Thomas led the Phoenix Mercury to victory, eliminating the current champions, the New York Liberty, in an exciting match.

Thomas Makes History

Thomas, with a stellar performance, recorded the first triple-double with 20 points in WNBA postseason history. Her performance included 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, solidifying her position as an unstoppable force on the court. This is Thomas’s ninth triple-double of the season and the fifth of her career in the WNBA playoffs. She is the second player to achieve a triple-double in a decisive game.

She impacts the game in many different ways. She cares about one thing and that is winning. When you have a player of her caliber and with so much pride to win a game, you will have a great game.

Nate Tibbetts, Mercury coach

Fans at the PHX Arena chanted “MVP” as Thomas shot free throws in the final seconds of the game, demonstrating the impact he has on the team and the fans. Before the game, Thomas was announced as a finalist for the MVP award. After the final buzzer sounded, Thomas celebrated with coach Tibbetts and teammate DeWanna Bonner, marking the Mercury’s advance to the semifinals. The Mercury, seeded fourth, will face the Lynx, who lead the table, in a best-of-five semifinal series. The first game will be on Sunday in Minnesota. Breanna Stewart of the Liberty acknowledged the difficulty of facing Thomas and her impact on the game. The game was full of crucial moments, including a shot by Bonner that extended Phoenix’s lead. The Mercury’s three stars, Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas, contributed most of the team’s points, demonstrating their dominance on the court. Phoenix dominated in rebounds, surpassing the Liberty. Copper, in addition to scoring, captured several key rebounds.

Breanna Stewart of the Liberty on Alyssa Thomas: “AT is incredible. Although this sucks, I’m excited to see what she continues to do with the rest of the playoffs because we had a nightmare defending her. I’m sure everyone else will have her too.” Sandy Brondello, coach of the Liberty, commented that Phoenix executed better in the crucial moments. Stewart, despite playing with an injury, led the Liberty with 30 points. Sabrina Ionescu also had an outstanding performance. Phoenix and Minnesota have faced each other four times in the regular season, with the Lynx winning the series 3-1. Thomas and Sabally expressed their enthusiasm for the next round, promising to give their best.