Alyssa Thomas

Last updated
Alyssa Thomas
2 Alyssa Thomas (cropped).jpg
Thomas in 2019
No. 25–Connecticut Sun
Position Power forward
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1992-04-12) April 12, 1992 (age 32)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school Central Dauphin
(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
College Maryland (2010–2014)
WNBA draft 2014: 1st round, 4th overall pick
Selected by the New York Liberty
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–present Connecticut Sun
2014–2015 Bucheon KEB Hana Bank
2015–2016 Yakin Dogu
2016–2018 Yongin Samsung Blueminx
2018–2023 USK Praha
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Medals
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Women’s basketball
World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Australia
Basketball 3x3
World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Athens Women's

Alyssa Thomas (born April 12, 1992) is an American professional basketball forward for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins. The New York Liberty drafted Thomas 4th overall in the 2014 WNBA draft, and immediately traded her to the Sun along with Kelsey Bone and a 2015 first-round draft pick in exchange for Tina Charles. Thomas is the University of Maryland's all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles for both the women's and men's programs, and one of only three athletes in NCAAW history with six career triple-doubles. [1] In the WNBA, Thomas recorded eleven career triple-doubles. [2] She is one of four players to record 15+, 15+, 10+ with 0 turnovers (Nikola Vucevic 2021, Charles Barkley 1992, and Fat Lever 1988), the only WNBA player to do so ever. [3]

Contents

Early years

Thomas attended Central Dauphin High School in Pennsylvania and became the school's all-time leading scorer. She was named to the 2010 Parade All-American First Team, [1] and was named a unanimous 2010 ESPN and USA Today All-American. [1] She was selected as the 2010 Pennsylvania AAAA State Player of the Year. [1]

College career

In her freshman season, Thomas was named 2011 ACC Rookie of the Year and was selected to the All-ACC Second Team. She led her team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, as well as 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. [1]

Thomas came to national attention in her sophomore season (2011-2012). After leading the ACC in scoring at 17.2 points per game, [4] she was named the 2012 ACC Player of the Year and an AP, WBCA and USBWA First Team All-American. She led the Maryland Terrapins to the 2012 ACC Championship, scoring 29 points in the championship game against Georgia Tech and earning ACC Tournament MVP honors. The Terrapins went on to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Notre Dame in their final game of the 2011–2012 season. [1]

In her junior year, Thomas became the first person in NCAA or WNBA history to average over 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for an entire season. [5] She won ACC Player of the Year for a second time and led the injury-addled Terrapins to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. [1]

Thomas capped her collegiate career by earning 2014 ACC Player of the Year for a third straight season, in addition to AP, WBCA and USBWA First-Team All America honors. She led a young Terrapins squad on a deep run through the NCAA Tournament, scoring a career-high 33 points against the Tennessee Lady Vols in the Sweet Sixteen en route to reaching the 2014 Final Four in Nashville. The Terrapins were defeated by Notre Dame in the Final Four match-up. [1] On June 27, 2014, Thomas was named ACC Female Athlete of the Year. [6]

The University of Maryland honored Thomas's jersey in a ceremony on March 2, 2014. [7]

Maryland statistics

Source [8]

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
YearTeamGPPointsFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2010-11Maryland3145048.0-73.07.31.62.10.214.5
2011-12Maryland3560146.225.980.08.03.21.60.417.2
2012-13Maryland3464045.242.976.510.35.31.80.818.8
2013-14Maryland3566551.324.079.710.94.11.50.419.0
CareerMaryland135235647.626.877.49.13.61.80.417.5

Professional career

WNBA

Thomas in 2017 Alyssa Thomas.jpg
Thomas in 2017

Thomas was drafted 4th overall by the New York Liberty in the 2014 WNBA draft, and was draft-day traded to the Sun alongside Kelsey Bone. In her rookie season, she averaged 10.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in her with the Sun in 34 games with 28 starts. [9] She was named to the 2014 WNBA All-Rookie Team. [10]

After her rookie season, Thomas would continue her role as starting power forward for the Sun. In 2017, Thomas would emerge as an all-star in the league. She scored a career-high 26 points in an 86–76 win over the Washington Mystics. [11] She would then be voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her first career all-star game appearance. Thomas would finish off the season setting new career-highs in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals as the Sun made the playoffs as the number 4 seed with a 21–13 record, receiving a bye to the second round, making it their first playoff appearance since 2012. In her first career playoff game, Thomas scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in an 88–83 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

In February 2018, Thomas re-signed with the Sun to a multi-year deal in free agency. [12] On August 9, 2018, Thomas scored a season-high 22 points in a 101–92 victory over the Dallas Wings to help the Sun clinch a playoff spot. [13] The Sun finished 21–13 with the number 4 seed and a bye to the second round. The Sun would yet again lose to the Phoenix Mercury in the second round elimination game by a final score of 96–86.

Shooting style

Thomas has a torn labrum in each shoulder. Michael Rosenberg describes her one-handed shooting style in Sports Illustrated: "a shooting motion that looks like a waiter carrying a tray, then throwing it in the air and quitting." She is left-handed and learned ambidexterity while growing up. During Game 2 of the 2021 semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces, Thomas dislocated her right shoulder. She returned to play in Game 3, scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds. [14]

Overseas

In 2014–2015, Thomas played in South Korea for Bucheon KEB Hana Bank. She led the league in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. [15] In 2015–2016, Thomas signed in Turkey for Yakin Dogu. In the 2016-17 offseason, Thomas signed with Yongin Samsung Blueminx of the Korean League. In 2017, Thomas resigned with Yongin Samsung Blueminx for the 2017-18 off-season. [16] In 2018, Thomas signed with USK Praha of the Czech League for the 2018-19 off-season.

On April 15, 2023, Thomas was named the Defensive Player of the Year of the 2022–23 EuroLeague Women season. [17]

WNBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2014 Connecticut 34°2827.3.434.200.7575.11.51.00.21.710.0
2015 Connecticut 242326.0.411.000.6925.31.41.20.21.78.8
2016 Connecticut 313127.1.487.000.6346.02.31.40.12.411.1
2017 Connecticut 333329.8.509.000.5676.84.51.50.42.914.8
2018 Connecticut 242430.6.464.000.5478.14.21.10.42.010.3
2019 Connecticut 34°34°30.2.505.000.4967.83.11.90.42.011.6
2020 Connecticut 212132.8.500.000.6869.04.82.00.32.515.5
2021 Connecticut 3012.3.267.000.7503.31.30.30.01.03.7
2022 Connecticut 36°36°32.1.500.000.7308.26.11.70.22.913.4
2023 Connecticut 40°40°36.2.474.000.7159.97.91.80.53.415.5
Career10 years, 1 team28027030.2.480.063.6487.44.11.50.32.412.4

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2017 Connecticut 1132.0.667.000.66710.01.02.00.06.020.0
2018 Connecticut 1135.0.538.0001.0003.03.00.00.01.017.0
2019 Connecticut 8837.0.532.000.7789.36.62.40.12.116.0
2020 Connecticut 7732.4.515.000.7678.14.01.70.42.117.9
2021 Connecticut 4023.3.408.000.6366.03.81.50.51.311.8
2022 Connecticut 121233.5.474.000.5769.56.31.50.72.512.3
2023 Connecticut 7738.9.500.000.6308.010.31.70.32.718.1
Career7 years, 1 team403633.9.498.000.6928.56.21.70.42.315.3

Personal life

Thomas is the older sister of former Wake Forest player Devin Thomas. [18] In February 2021 she announced to be in a romantic relationship with her Connecticut Sun teammate DeWanna Bonner, and in July 2023 they became engaged. [19]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Maryland Profile". umterps.com.
  2. ↑ Amore, Dom (October 1, 2023). "Dom Amore: Connecticut Sun season sets, but leaves fierce pride behind". Hartford Courant . Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ Vanoni, Maggie (August 1, 2023). "Connecticut Sun defeat Minnesota behind historic triple-double performance from Alyssa Thomas". Darien Times . Hearst Communications . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ "#25 Alyssa Thomas - Maryland (2013-14) - Women's Basketball State". wbbstate.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  5. ↑ Todd Carton. "Maryland women's basketball: Alyssa Thomas named ACC Player of the Week". Testudo Times.
  6. ↑ Atlantic Coast Conference. "Atlantic Coast Conference - Official Athletics Site".
  7. ↑ "Thomas to Have Jersey Honored at Senior Day". umterps.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  8. ↑ "NCAA® Career Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  9. ↑ "Abby Bishop". WNBA.
  10. ↑ "Top Three Selections in 2014 WNBA Draft Head WNBA All-Rookie Team". WNBA.com. 2014-08-28. Archived from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  11. ↑ "Thomas scores 26 points, as Sun beat Mystics 86-76". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  12. ↑ "Connecticut Sun re-sign Alyssa Thomas to multi-year deal". summitthoops.com.
  13. ↑ "Sun Clinch Playoff Berth With 101-92 Win Over Wings". wnba.com.
  14. ↑ Rosenberg, Michael (Sep 16, 2022). "Alyssa Thomas Revives Sun in Must-Win Game 3". Sports Illustrated. ABG-SI LLC. and Ward, Zachary (September 16, 2021). "'The Engine' returns". SwishAppeal. Vox Media. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  15. ↑ "South Korean Basketball, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - asia-basket.com". www.eurobasket.com.
  16. ↑ "WNBA Players Playing Overseas". wnba.com.
  17. ↑ "MVP Meesseman headlines EuroLeague Women Awards winners". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  18. ↑ Barker, Jeff (February 17, 2014). "Wake Forest's Devin Thomas is more than just Alyssa's little brother". The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ DeWanna Bonner [@Dewannabonner] (2021, February 16). You know how sometimes great things happen, and you really don't expect it !!! Well this was one of them❤️❤️ !! I know some may have a lot of questions, but I didn't post this picture for that, just to show pure happiness!!! This is how I ended my Valentine's Day!! Laughing until my belly hurt with this amazing human!! ❤️❤️ @athomas_25 [Instagram photo] retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CLXuAxlhFXG/
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