Report: Mercury acquiring F Alyssa Thomas from Sun

Field Level Media|published: Tue 28th January, 15:07 2025

WNBA: Playoffs-Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx

Oct 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) warms up before game five of the 2024 WNBA playoffs against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Phoenix Mercury are acquiring five-time All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas in a trade with the Connecticut Sun, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The six-time All-Defensive Team selection has played all 11 of her seasons in the WNBA with the Sun, reaching the Finals in 2019 and 2022.

Thomas, 32, owns career averages of 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 320 games (310 starts) since making her debut with Connecticut in 2014.

Still in her prime, Thomas finished in the top five in Most Valuable Player voting in each of the past three seasons and made the All-WNBA first team in both 2023 and 2024. She won a gold medal with the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Thomas was an unrestricted free agent, but the Sun tagged her with a core designation, meaning a trade was her only way to leave. ESPN reported that the transaction with the Mercury is a sign-and-trade, so the move cannot become official until Feb. 1.

--Field Level Media