Alyssa Thomas makes WNBA history with the third straight triple double

Alyssa Thomas still has to do work while polishing an MVP CV and stimulating a top seed for the Phoenix Mercury. Part of that journey, however, is consistently higher the bar and makes it more difficult for contemporaries to match its greatness.

Thomas wrote history – again – Thursday evening and became the only player who registered a triple double in three consecutive games.

Before that case there was only one player to reach it two Straight games: Alyssa Thomas, countless times with the Connecticut Sun.

She now makes a habit of the ‘herself’ Stat-Lines.

The latest version was similar to her entire campaign of 2025: sublime, efficient and selfless. She ended with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while she continued to build on her career-high real shooting brand (56.9%). She shoots 66.9% on the edge, also the best of her 12-year career.

While the fourth quarter ended on Thursday, her teammates were visibly strengthened to lift her in the record books. They would not let her suppress her with nine assists. Every pass she threw, whether it was in a half -court or transition environment, was received with an immediate attempt at shot. Everyone knew the assignment.

The Mercury drove to a 35-point eruption, the team The third highest margin of victory In franchise history. Phoenix is currently three victories prior to last year’s pace after 30 games. With Thomas in front, there is more coherence on the field, less defensive errors, more responsibility and simply better vibes.

This is the first year that Mercury head coach has been able to spend time with Thomas, including watching her every day.

After a few months around her, the only thing that surprises Tibbetts is how underestimated she remains in the large schedule of WNBA Discours.

“AT is an incredible player,” Tibbetts said after the victory. “She would probably be the first to tell you, or wouldn’t want to talk about it … But I think she has overlooked her entire career about how great she is. The way she plays is special. She competes for every possession Defensive. She wants to see her teammates succeed with the way she passes the ball.”

Thomas now has 19 triple Doubles during her career – 15 with Connecticut and four with Phoenix.

Not only is that more than quadruple The next player on the list, Sabrina Ionescu, but it is more than Players 2-8 combined.

Are there triple Doubles in some respects a random achievement? Certainly.

Sports public, after all, does not always fall in love with round figures and triple Doubles does not always correlate with impact. Just like something else, the correct context must be applied. Thomas could still be completely in the MVP yacht if she routinely delivered 25-point versions with seven rebounds and six assists.

But that is not the type of player she is.

The expression “one of one” is a descriptor from Thomas, and not just because she collects unprecedented box scores. Because of her creepy capacity, it is to drive a game without trying more than 12 shots.

She does not try to pick up triple doubles – it is her natural cadence and personality with which she can casually walk into each.

And if she has pursued them for fun? It should not matter, as long as the Mercury fulfill their primary goal to win. Sitting on 19-11, only half a game from the second place in the rankings, I would say that they are in solid form on that front.

During a season of five months, that can feel like a rut, you need joy and entertainment. You need measurable goals, both at individual and team level. But the most important thing is that players need realistic, feasible benchmarks to celebrate with their teammates.

Without the triple double excitement, we will probably not hear the thunderous ovation in PHX Arena on Thursday evening, with MVP channels reflecting through the lower bowl. We probably don’t get that Thomas’ teammates lose their mind on the couch when history was made, covered by Kahleah Copper who passionately shouted in the microphone who would be her MVP mood.

By the time she hangs the sneakers and runs away from the sport, which will not be soon, Thomas becomes synonymous with the triple double-on-the same way as someone who automatically expresses the words “Caitlin Clark” gives you a visualization of her launch of 30-foot bombs.

We have seen exclusively Thomas 1,130 players appear in at least one game in the history of WNBA. That is in the course of 29 seasons. In the past week alone, Thomas has registered more triple Doubles than 1,127 of those players logged in to them career.

That is not only impressive. It is proof that she has brought a unique style for the competition since she was drawn up in 2014, and she will be an inspiration for future stars who still want to leave a large print at stake without being a top class scorer.

With only 345 career games under her belt, Thomas is already eighth on the all time in assists (about to turn seventh), and 12th in total rebounds. She will stand out as the statistical anomaly of this era and the other components of the game appreciate instead of scoring high volume.

Still only 33 years old, she will inevitably place herself in elite conversations if she chooses to play for another five to seven years.

Nicknames are often stupid in sport and not exactly a reflection of the identity or tendencies of the player.

Thomas does not fall into that category.

Invoiced as ‘the engine’, it is a direct representation of what it offers for the mercury. It is also what enables her to stand out and to separate herself from the peloton into a competition that rises in popularity.

She is the Wnba’s version of Nikola Jokic, reads the floor and dictates the conditions of each property to generate the best possible outcome. She can also be a version of Giannis Antetokounmpo, swallow rebounds and work as the de facto point Guard in those grab-and-go scenarios while simple transition points are created.

But let’s face it. Future Hall-of-Famers would rather cut their own path in their own competition.

She is the Wnba’s Alyssa Thomas. Just like the statistical achievements we see every week … The only comparison she needs is itself.