Alyssa Thomas' late charge for her first WNBA MVP award is gaining more and more steam following her performance on Tuesday night.
In the Phoenix Mercury's 92-84 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, Thomas set a WNBA record with her seventh triple-double of the season. She now owns 40 percent of all triple-doubles in league history, and she set another record by doling out 31 assists in just a two-game span against the Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries last Friday.
Thomas is averaging a career-high 15.9 points and is the runaway leader in total assists (299) as well as assists per game (9.3). She also ranks third in rebounding at 9.0 per game, her all-around impact showing that she truly does live up to her nickname: The Engine.
MORE: History again for Alyssa Thomas in Mercury win
In totality, Thomas is in rarefied air that isn't shared with another WNBA player. Her closest comparisons all play or have played in the NBA, and they are three of the greatest basketball players ever to set foot on the hardwood.
Thomas is one of only four NBA or WNBA players ever to average 15 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and one steal per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field. The others? LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Magic Johnson, players who have combined to win 10 championships and 10 MVP awards.
Alyssa Thomas is out of this world #WNBA pic.twitter.com/PKlj5fiDe6
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) August 27, 2025
Though Minnesota's Napheesa Collier remains the frontrunner to win WNBA MVP, Thomas can continue to close the gap if the Mercury finish hot over the final seven games. At 23-14, Phoenix is one game behind the Atlanta Dream for the #2 seed in the playoffs -- but the Dream holds the tie-breaker after beating the Mercury three times this season.
MORE WNBA NEWS:
Fever's Aliyah Boston continues to tear up the Indiana record book
Fever still viewed as title contenders despite huge unknown with Caitlin Clark
Lynx's Napheesa Collier wants to turn 'serious FOMO' into a championship run
Becky Hammon insists A'ja Wilson is this year's MVP: 'She is the conversation'