Alyssa
Thomas

Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Date of Birth: April 12, 1992
College: Maryland ‘14
High School: Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.)

Drafted: Selected by the New York Liberty with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft…Traded to the Sun just after being selected along with Kelsey Bone and New York’s first round pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft for Tina Charles.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Has played in 239 regular season games with 230 starts.
• Career totals include 2847 points, 1665 rebounds, 830 assists, 359 steals and 67 blocks. 
• Sits at fifth in scoring (2,847), second in rebounding (1633), third in assists (830), third in steals (359), and fifth in games played (239) in Connecticut Sun history.
• Recorded her first-ever triple-double (and the first in Sun history) in a win over Minnesota on 7/24 with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
• Notched back-to-back triple-doubles in Games 3 and 4 of the 2022 WNBA Finals, making her the first player to ever record a triple-double in a Finals games, the first player to record two triple-doubles in back to back games (regular season or playoffs) and the first player to record four triple-doubles in a single season in WNBA history (7/24, 8/2, 9/15 & 9/18).
• Quick forward can also beat defenders off the dribble
• Strong athlete
• Great jumping ability
• Can finish from difficult positions
• Very good rebounder who contests well in traffic
• Scored her 2,500th career-point against Las Vegas (5/31/22)
• Grabbed her 1,500th career-rebound against Washington (6/19/22)
• Dished out her 800th career-assist against Phoenix (8/2/22)
• Tallied her 300th career-steal against New York (5/7/22)
• All-WNBA Second Team (2022)
• WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2020)
• 3x WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2017, 2019, 2022)
• 3x WNBA All Star (2017, 2019, 2022)
• 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year

2022 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared and started in all 36 regular season contests for Connecticut.
• Finished with 484 points, 294 rebounds, 218 assists, 62 steals and seven blocks.
• Averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 steals, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 2022.
• Recorded two regular season triple-doubles (7/24 and 8/2), making her one of three players to record multiple triple-double in a single season in league history (Candace Parker, Sabrina Ionescu). 
• Named WNBA All-Star for the third time in her career (2017, 2019, 2022).
• Named the AP Comeback Player of the Year after missing all but six games of the 2021 season with a torn Achilles tendon.
• 2022 AP Second Team
• 2022 All-WNBA Second Team
• 2022 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
• 2x WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week (5/23, 7/25)
• 2x WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month (May, July)
• Moved into second in rebounding (1633), third in assists (830), third in steals (359), and fifth in games played (239) in Connecticut Sun history.
• Appeared and started in all 12 playoff contests.
• Finished the 2022 postseason with 147 points, 114 rebounds, 75 assists, 18 steals and eight blocks.
• Notched back-to-back triple-doubles in Games 3 and 4 of the 2022 WNBA Finals, making her the first player to ever record a triple-double in a Finals games, the first player to record two triple-doubles in back to back games (regular season or playoffs) and the first player to record four triple-doubles in a single season in WNBA history (7/24, 8/2, 9/15 & 9/18).
• Grabbed a postseason career-high 15 rebounds in the win over Las Vegas on 9/15.
• Moved into first all-time in postseason scoring (486), rebounding (282), assists (175) and steals (57) in Connecticut Sun franchise history.

2021 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Missed the first 30 games of the season as she was recovering from an Achilles injury that she suffered in January 2021.
• Played in the final two regular season games and totaled 35 minutes, 11 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal.
• Played in all four playoff games against Chicago Sky
• Totaled 47 points, 24 rebounds, 15 assists, 6 steals and 2 blocks throughout the series
• Averaged 11.8 points, 6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game
• Recorded a double-double in the second game of the series (9/30) with 15 points and 11 rebounds, becoming her 8^th double-double in playoff competition career
• Was 40.8% from the floor shooting 20-49, and 64% from the free throw line going 7-11
• Recorded 93 minutes played during the series, averaging 23 minutes per game
• Surpassed Katie Douglas to become 4^th all-time in playoff career free throws made and free throws attempted in Sun playoff history, with 67 and 88 respectively
• Became 2^nd all-time in Sun playoff total rebounds and defensive rebounds with a total of 168 and 115, respectively
• Improved to 2^nd all-time in career playoff steals, totaling 39 during playoff competition

2020 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared in 21 of the team’s 22 regular season games, starting in each of them. Also started in all seven of the Sun’s playoff games. Missed her first game since the 2018 season on Sept. 3 against the Las Vegas Aces.
• Played in her 200^th career regular season game. Has now appeared in 201 regular season games and has started 194 of them.
• Sits fifth in Connecticut Sun history for all-time points (2352), fifth in franchise history in games played (201) and fifth in all-time assists (608).
• Finished the season with 325 points, 190 rebounds, 101 assists and 42 steals.
• Averaged a career-high 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds during the regular season including a career-high 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
• Matched her career-high 28 points against Washington (7/28) in the second game of the season.
• Finished the season with her 29^th career double-double after recording seven during the regular season.
• Grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds against Los Angeles (7/30) in the third game of the season.
• Tallied her 1300^th career rebounds and 600^th career assist.
• She is 1-of-56 players in WNBA history to have amassed at least 2200 points and 1300 rebounds and 1-of-30 players with at least 2200 points, 1300 rebounds and 600 assists.
• Scored 127 points in seven games during the post season as well as 57 rebounds, 28 assists and 12 steals.
• Recorded a postseason career-high 28 points against Chicago (9/15) and matched her career-high 13 rebounds against Chicago (9/15).
• Grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and set a new WNBA playoff record.
• Tallied three double-doubles during the postseason and now has the most playoff career double-doubles in franchise history with nine.
• Named to the WNBA All-Defensive first team for the first time in her career.
• Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week (8/31)
• Named AP All-WNBA Second Team

2019 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared in 34 regular season games with 34 starts. Started in all eight post-season contests for the Sun.
• Concluded the season with 396 points, 264 rebounds, 105 assists
• Ranked sixth in the league in total rebounding and third in total steals
• Finished third on the team in points, second in rebounds, third in assists and first in steals
• Tallied 21 games with double-figures
• Finished with 12 double-doubles including five in the playoffs.
• Recorded a career-high 28 points and 12 FGM against Dallas (6/26/19)
• Set a WNBA finals record for total assists with 38.
• Set a WNBA finals record for assists in a quarter after recording seven against the Washington Mystics in game four of the series. Thomas also tied the WNBA finals record for assists in a half with eight.
• Set a new record for total minutes in a WNBA finals series with 196:29 total minutes played.
• Averaged 18.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and is the only player to average 15+ points, 7+ rebounds, and 7+ assists in the WNBA finals.
• Combined for 75 total points in game two of the WNBA Finals which set a new finals record for points scored by three players on the same team in a regulation game. (Alyssa Thomas [21], Jonquel Jones [32], Courtney Williams [22])
• Named a 2019 WNBA All-Star
• Selected to 2019 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team

2018 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Started in all 24 regular season contests for the Sun.
• Finished the season with 248 points, 195 rebounds, 101 assists
• Finished second on the team in rebounds, third in steals and top five in scoring
• Recorded six double-doubles and reached double-figures in 14 contests
• Tallied a career-high 10 assists against Phoenix (7/13/18)

2017 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared in 33 games with 33 starts
• Missed game at Indiana (5/20) because of concussion protocol
• Averaged career-high 14.8 points
• Led the Sun with career highs of 147 assists, 188 made field goals, 52 steals and 982 minutes
• Second on the team with career-highs of 225 rebounds, 114 made free throws and 13 blocks
• Had five double-doubles
• Had at least five assists in 20 games
• Had five games with at least eight assists
• Had a career-high 26 points with 10 rebounds and five assists at Washington (8/29)
• Had a career-high 13 rebounds against Dallas (8/12)
• Tied a franchise record with a career-high seven steals at San Antonio (7/5)
• Had a career-high nine assists against Seattle (6/29)
• Scored in double figures 27 times, including streaks of 14 games and 12 games in a row
• Scored 1,000^th career point against Minnesota (6/17)
• Earned first WNBA All Star selection
• Selected to 2017 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Twice named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

2016 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared in 31 games with 31 starts
• Missed three games with a concussion suffered at Atlanta (6/12)
• Set new career highs for points (343), scoring average (11.1 ppg.), rebounds (187), rebound average (6.0 rpg.), assists (70), assist average (2.3 apg.), steals (44), field goals (130), free throw attempts (131) and field goal percentage (48.7)
• Had two double-doubles
• Scored in double-figures 19 times
• Had season-high 12 rebounds against Los Angeles (7/15)
• Had season-high seven assists twice

2015 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared in 24 games with 23 starts
• Missed 10 games with shoulder injury suffered against Tulsa (8/12)
• Returned to average nine points and six rebounds in last two games
• Second on the team in rebound average (5.3 rpg.)
• Third on the team in scoring average (8.8 ppg.)
• Led the Sun in free throws made (72) and attempted (104), despite missing 10 games
• Led the Sun in offensive rebounds (61)
• Tied a then career-high with 11 rebounds at Washington (8/9)
• Had a career-high eight offensive rebounds at Phoenix (6/19)
• Had a career high eight defensive rebounds at Los Angeles (6/21)
• Had 12 double-figure scoring games, including four in a row from June 11-19^th
• Played career-high 40 minutes at Phoenix (6/19)
• Had 12 games with five or more rebounds
• Averaged over seven rebounds during six-game stretch from 6/16-7/2

2014 HIGHLIGHTS WITH CONNECTICUT:

• Appeared in 34 games with 28 starts
• Was second on the team in minutes (927)
• One of the top rookies in the Class of 2014
• Voted to WNBA All-Rookie team
• Ranked third on the Sun in rebounds (5.1 per game), and fourth on the team in scoring (10 ppg.)
• Reached double figures 15 times, including eight of the last nine games
• Scored a career-high 24 points against Tulsa (7/3)
• Collected first double-double with 23 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in a victory over Chicago (6/25)
• Had 18 games with five or more rebounds

OVERSEAS COMPETITION:

• During the 2020-2021 run, Thomas played in three games with the team before she suffered a season ending achilles injury. Prior to the injury, Thomas averaged 15.7 ppg, 13.7 rpg snf 8.0 apg. Her team finished with a ZBL title.
• The 2019-2020 season was another successful one for Thomas as she led in two categories and was second in another. She led her team in ppg and rpg with 18.3 and 11.4. Thomas was second in apg with 4.2. Thomas also led the league with most points scored in a single game with 31 and was second in rebounds when she pulled down 19 in a single game. 
• During her 2018-2019 off-season, Alyssa Thomas played with ZVVZ USK Praha. In 2018-2019, Thomas led her team in three categories, points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game. She finished with 16.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 4.6 apg.
• Returned to South Korea for the 2016-17 offseason, averaging 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 28 games for Samsung Life Blue Minx
• Averaged 16 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in Turkey for Yakin Dogu in 2015-16
• Played in South Korea during the 2014-15 offseason for KEB Hanabank Bucheon
• Averaged 19.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30 games

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Three-time AAC Player of the Year
• Two-time WBCA Coaches’ All-American
• First Team AP All-American as a senior
• Second Team AP All-American as a junior
• 2011 AAC Rookie of the Year
• Wrapped up her career at Maryland as the all-time leader in eight statistical categories – games started (135), points (2,356), points per game (17.5), field goals made (890), field goals attempted (1,868), free throws made (557), rebounds (1,235) and double-doubles (60)
• Her scoring and rebounding totals are the most for any Maryland player, male or female
• Had six triple-doubles in her career
• Is just one of three players in NCAA history to have six or more triple-doubles in her career
• Three-time All-ACC Tournament Team member
• ACC Tournament MVP in 2012
• Nine-time ACC Player of the Week
• Seven time ACC Rookie of the Week as a freshman
• Ninth player in Maryland program history to have her jersey honored in the rafters on March 2, 2014
• Helped lead the Terrapins to a record of 109-28 during her career, including four NCAA Tournament appearances, three Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights and the 2014 Final Four

PERSONAL:

• Daughter of Bobby Thomas and Tina Klotzbeecher-Thomas
• Has two siblings, Devin and Alexia
• Devin played basketball at Wake Forest
• Devin broke a backboard on Feb. 16, 2014 and was SportsCenter’s No. 1 play
• Alyssa’s block vs. Duke was No. 1 three days later
• Family Science major
• Sports hero is Michael Jordan
• 2010 Parade All-American 1st team
• Unanimous 2010 ESPN All-American
• 2010 USA Today All-American
• 2010 Pennsylvania AAAA State Player of the Year
• Three-time Penn. AAAA 1st team All-State (2008, ’09, ’10)
• Averaged 24.3 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game as a senior
• Finished as school’s all-time leading scorer accumulating 2,291 points
• Amassed 1,390 rebounds, 452 assists and 372 steals
• Part of high school’s all-time winningest class with 106 victories in four years
• Made All-District all four years
• District MVP in 2009 and 2010
• Led school to second straight District title in 2010, as well as the state semi-finals
• Led high school to 2008 Penn. AAAA State Championship as a sophomore
• Three-time Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Year
• Recognized by pennlive.com as one of the decade’s best high school athletes in Pennsylvania