Alyssa Thomas failed to lead the Phoenix Mercury past the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, as they lost 99-89. Despite that, Thomas made history in the game.
Thomas finished with a remarkable triple-double of 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. It was her third triple-double of the season and 22nd of her career, extending her record for the most in WNBA history. No other player has more than five of these stat lines.
With her scoring output, Thomas also officially surpassed the 5,000-point mark. It didn’t come easily, though, as she had to work hard after scoring only two points in the first half.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Now, Thomas is the first player in WNBA history to have at least 5,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists. The league announced the milestone on social media after Thomas scored the points she needed in the third quarter of the contest.
“Alyssa Thomas just reached the 5,000 point mark, and is now the first player in WNBA history with 5K points, 3K rebounds, and 2K assists,” the WNBA wrote.
Thomas’ achievement gave the Mercury something to celebrate even after a loss. It’s worth noting that the defeat officially eliminated Phoenix from playoff contention. The team dropped to 13-24 on the season, eight games behind the No. 8 Dallas Wings with seven left to play.
Furthermore, Thomas received her sixth technical foul of the season in the contest. She’s now due to pay a $1,000 fine as a result of the violation.
While it’s a game that Thomas would probably want to forget, her historic milestone will undoubtedly stand out as a bright spot.
