Alyssa Thomas sends message after Phoenix’s playoff heartbreak

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 22: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas 25 drives to the basket against Indiana Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen 2 on June 22, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA JUN 22 Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26062249 IMAGO/Icon Sportswire

Alyssa Thomas sends message after Phoenix’s playoff heartbreak

Originally posted on HerSportsNation | By Prit Chauhan | Last updated Sep 26, 2026 2:26 PM ET

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On September 25, 2026, Alyssa Thomas played her last game of the season. Last year, the Phoenix Mercury came close to winning the league; this year, they haven’t even made the playoffs.

Naturally, the experience is somewhat foreign to the former Connecticut Sun star. “Yeah, for me, it’s been a long time since I haven’t been in playoffs. So, definitely, uncharted feeling for me,” Thomas told reporters in the exit interview.

“I haven’t felt this way in a long time, but yeah, it’s something I don’t ever wanna feel again, and next season definitely will be different.”

Alyssa Thomas’ words make it clear that she won’t back down in the 2027 season. Even this year, she had a brilliant performance, after she had 14.3 points per game and 7.8 rebounds, along with 8.5 assists. Her average player efficiency rating was 20.

However, the team lacked key players. In August, it was confirmed that Kelsey Plum would miss the remainder of the season due to a left-leg injury. The player only appeared for five games with the team after she was traded from the LA Sparks.

Furthermore, the team also didn’t have Satou Sabally, who left in April 2026. She was a key part of the Mercury’s offense and the top scorer back in 2025 when the team made it to the finals.

Ultimately, the Mercury finished 16-28, their fourth-worst record in franchise history.

The team was already struggling. All the Aces did was put the final nail in the coffin for the Mercury’s 2026 campaign. Thomas has previously acknowledged the team’s struggling defense.

Alyssa Thomas on Phoenix Mercury’s struggling defense

The Phoenix Mercury defense was ranked 12th back in August 2026. When they finally exited the season on September 25, their rating had barely budged.

Now ranked 11, the team has clearly been struggling for a while. This is made clear by Thomas’ statement after the Mercury officially lost their playoff berth after losing to the Atlanta Dream.

“We’re what, 12th in the league? That’s unheard of, especially for me,” Thomas had said after losing 99-89 to the Atlanta Dream. “I’m accustomed to being at the top of the league. That’s something that you have to look at the end of the season.”

It was back then that the star knew that 2026 wouldn’t be the season for the Mercury. However, she still broke multiple records in this difficult time.

Even as she lost to the Atlanta Dream, Alyssa Thomas became the first WNBA player to achieve 5,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 2,000 assists.

She also set a brand-new WNBA single-season assists record at 358. The previous record was also hers at 357 in 2025.

This article first appeared on TheSheGotGame and was syndicated with permission.

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