Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Alyssa Thomas Adds Her Name to WNBA Postseason History Despite Mercury’s Second-Straight Loss

Thomas added her name to WNBA's record books despite Mercury's Game 2 loss.

Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

On October 5, the Phoenix Mercury suffered their second consecutive 2025 WNBA Finals loss as they went down 91-78 against the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of the series. With the defeat, the Mercury are now trailing the series 0-2, and are desperately looking to rebound before it slips away. However, despite the loss, there was an upside to Sunday’s game for Mercury in the form of Alyssa Thomas’ two playoff records.

Thomas surpassed Courtney Williams to become the all-time Postseason assists leader with 391 assists. Vandersloot has 390 assists, and she hit the mark in 61 games. As Thomas recorded her fifth assist in Game 2, she surpassed the mark set by Vandersloot and grabbed the top spot in just 56 games. The remaining three players in the top five are Chelsea Gray (380), Sue Bird (364), and Lindsay Whalen (340).

Alyssa Thomas stamped her name in the history books once again tonight!

✅ She became the all-time Postseason assists leader, surpassing Courtney Vandersloot (390) with 391 dimes.
✅ She moved into 6th all-time on the Postseason field goals made list, surpassing Seimone Augustus… pic.twitter.com/9wb1aRugLB
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2025

In addition to it, Thomas slipped into the sixth spot on all-time Postseason field goals made list as she finished with five-of-nine field goals. Thomas now has 367 FGM, and she is above Selimone Augustus, who is in the seventh spot with 362 FGM.

Mercury Head Coach Nate Tibbets Defends Alyssa Thomas’ Playing Style After Game 2 Loss

Alyssa Thomas has time and again been painted as a villain due to her playing style. Even during the semifinals Game 3 against the Minnesota Lynx, she was blamed for Napheesa Collier’s injury. Notably, Collier rolled her ankle after an incidental contact with Thomas. While no foul was given and it wasn’t even intentional, fans and fraternity blamed her for the injury that ended Collier’s season.

Moreover, her statement about physicality during the WNBA playoffs added fuel to the fire. The 33-year-old has always been blamed for her style of basketball , but Mercury head coach Nate Tibbets has always come in defense of her. Once again, after the Game 2 loss, he stepped in to defend Thomas and heaped praise on her.

“There is no holding back AT,” Tibbets said after the Game 2 loss. “She is who she is, that’s why we love her. That’s why she’s the player that she is. You know, the thing that I just get disappointed in is hearing. Our officials say that she’s hard to officiate because she plays so physical right. We want her to be at because she’s a hell of a player and we want her playing with that downhill force.”

Notably, Thomas has emerged as a force to be reckoned with ever since she moved to the Mercury. She finished the 2025 regular season with an average of 15.4 ppg, and the number has significantly gone up in the postseason. Thomas is averaging 17.2 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game, leading her team across various statistical categories including rebounds, assists, and steals.

2025 WNBA Finals

Alyssa Thomas

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.