Alyssa Thomas is the definition of an MVP

MVP doesn’t just have to stand for “most valuable player”—it can just as well stand for “most valuable person.” The fierce player Thomas is on the court is almost a shock compared to how she is just the complete opposite off the court. However, this is basketball, so let’s make the case for her as a basketball player.

Availability

The famous saying goes, “the best ability is availability.” The quote rings true, though, when it comes not only to a prestigious award like the MVP, but also to factors such as team chemistry, team record, and respect amongst teammates and opponents, which highlight how valuable a player is.

This season, Thomas has played 34 out of 39 games. The five games she has missed were due to a calf injury she suffered in late May/early June.

In the aftermath of the Mercury’s 91-84 win over the Los Angeles Sparks last Tuesday, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts highlighted that Thomas was dealing with an illness over the last couple of days but made it clear she was going to be there for her team at this part of the season.

He praised how Thomas comes ready to compete every single night and that he would like to see more national recognition for her.

“Tonight, she was absolutely sick as hell, and she hasn’t done anything with the team the last couple of days. The one thing I respect about AT is every night she is going to come with it,” Tibbetts stated.

While she has missed five games this season, other MVP contenders A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier have missed their share of games as well. Wilson has missed six games this season while Collier has missed seven. Other young notable stars Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers have missed games as well.

When you look from top to bottom, her presence and impact are as strongly felt through her availability as anyone in the league while maintaining team success.

Team record improvement

This is Thomas’s first season with the Mercury, but the way she has been orchestrating the team, one would think she has been here multiple seasons. This is a special gift: to be able to adapt to a new environment with new players and a new system and make an immediate impact.

In the 2024 season, the Mercury finished with a record of 19-21 and a first-round exit. This season, with still five games remaining, they are at 25-14 and currently tied with the Atlanta Dream for the third spot in the WNBA. Thomas and Satou Sabally are the two main acquisitions made to the Mercury roster. That’s true impact: moving from one season where the team was below .500.

Not only that, but Thomas’s former team, the Connecticut Sun, was able to experience winning. For three straight seasons with Thomas leading the charge, they averaged 25 wins per season. This year, the Sun are at the bottom of the league at 10-29.

She has the nickname “the engine” that has followed her throughout her WNBA career. Without the engine, the car can’t start, and that is Thomas to the Mercury. Her presence is contagious, allowing her teammates to be the best versions of themselves, and that affects the team record.

Making your teammates better

When speaking on value, it goes beyond numbers, flashy highlights, and point output. Through her play, Thomas’s biggest mark outside of her multiple triple-doubles is how she can affect her teammates in a positive way. That was strongly echoed by the Mercury’s scoring threat, Kahleah Copper.

Kahleah Copper on Alyssa Thomas

“Very unselfish. I don’t think she gets the credit she deserves. Name someone else doing what she is doing,” Copper questioned.

For the 2025 season, Thomas is averaging 15.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 9.2 apg, and 1.6 spg. She is top 15 in these major categories in the WNBA: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and field goal percentage. Copper is correct; who else in the league is doing this while impacting the most important thing—winning? That is what seems to drive Thomas the most.

“Whether it’s scoring, rebounding, assisting, I’m always playing defense. My greatest job is to get my teammates easy open shots, and I take a lot of pride in that,” Thomas stated.

This wouldn’t be the first time the city of Phoenix experienced such a special player who mirrors Thomas’s personality on and off the court. Former Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash was back-to-back MVP in 2005 and 2006, steering the Suns to a winning culture instantly upon his arrival.

There is no guarantee that Thomas will be the 2025 WNBA MVP, but one thing is for certain: she needs to be recognized for how she is elevating and leading her team while creating a healthy and competitive environment for everyone.