Alyssa Thomas is having an extraordinary season with the Phoenix Mercury. She recently matched her personal record of six regular season triple-doubles (which she set in 2023) and is on track to break that record between now and the end of the season in September.
Alyssa Thomas told me her reaction to the crowd chanting “MVP” throughout the game.
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) August 23, 2025
“I feel it’s the ultimate sign of respect from a fanbase.” pic.twitter.com/M03AkRmJbm
She's also only missed five games this season, and she's consistently put in performances that have kept the Mercury in the running for playoffs all year. In fact, perhaps more than any other player in the league, Thomas has been the one who has made sure her team was set – and who has proven herself as a legitimate champion worthy of the MVP prize.
More: Alyssa Thomas continues dominance on Sunday in Mercury win
Mercury fans are fully aware of this reality, and flooded the stadium with "MVP" chants during the team's August 22 game. As Thomas put it, such a response is "the ultimate sign of respect."
"Not too many people can say that they’ve had a crowd cheering for them like that, but feel truly appreciated," she explained. "I know I got them supporting me 100% and just super grateful for those moments."