Alyssa Thomas: A WNBA All-Star and Champion
High School
Alyssa Thomas was a standout basketball player at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She was a four-year starter and led her team to the state championship game in her senior year. She was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year and was a McDonald’s All-American. In 2019, Alyssa was honored by her high school being inducted into their hall of fame.
College
Thomas played college basketball at the University of Maryland, where she was a four-year starter. She was named the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2012 and was a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection.
Alyssa Thomas was a standout player for the Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball team from 2011 to 2014. She was a four-time All-American, three-time ACC Player of the Year, and the 2012 ACC Tournament MVP.
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freshman- Thomas was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team. She averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game.
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sophomore- Thomas was named to the All-ACC First Team. She averaged 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game. She also led the ACC in rebounds per game.
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junior- Thomas was named to the AP All-America First Team and the Wooden Award All-American Team. She averaged 17.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game. She also led the ACC in rebounding and steals per game.
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senior- Thomas was named to the AP All-America First Team and the Wooden Award All-American Team. She averaged 19.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game. She also led the ACC in rebounding and steals per game.
Alyssa Thomas helped lead the Terrapins to the NCAA Tournament all four years of her college career. They reached the Final Four in 2012 and 2014. Thomas is one of the most decorated players in Maryland women’s basketball history. She is the school’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,210) and double-doubles (56). AT is also third in school history in points scored (2,291).
Professional
Alyssa was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft. She has been a key member of the Sun ever since, and she has been named to the WNBA All-Star team four times. Thomas helped the Sun win the WNBA championship in 2019. Alyssa Thomas has had a stellar season for the Connecticut Sun. The 31-year-old forward has led the league in rebounds and is third in steals. She’s also set a league record with 316 assists in a single season. Thomas has 27 double-doubles, including six triple-doubles. She’s also the first player in WNBA history to record a triple-double in back-to-back games multiple times in a season.
Legacy
Alyssa Thomas is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. She is a two-time WNBA champion, a four-time WNBA All-Star, and a two-time All-WNBA First Team selection. She is also a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
2023 Season
While Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun did not win the MVP award, she firmly inserted herself into the conversation with a breakout season. After missing all of 2021 with an injury, Thomas returned better than ever in 2023.
The 2023 WNBA MVP race came down to a tight competition between several of the league’s biggest superstars. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, and Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun were the front-runners all season long.
The versatile forward averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists for the Sun. Thomas’ do-it-all impact made Connecticut one of the most balanced teams in the league. Her passing ability from the forward spot unlocked the Sun’s offense. Defensively, Thomas took on the toughest matchups game after game. Thomas finished 2nd in MVP voting.
