Good News Announced for WNBA Star Before Indiana Fever Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi M. Dombro | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 12:43 PM ET

With only a handful of games left in the 2025 WNBA regular season, the playoff race is as tight as ever. The Phoenix Mercury are clinging to fourth place in the standings with a 25-14 record, which means they currently have home-court advantage in the postseason.

11-year WNBA veteran forward Alyssa Thomas has been the main catalyst for the Mercury in her first season with the franchise. She is averaging 15.8 points, 9.2 assists and 8.9 rebounds per game, as well as 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks.

Thomas is firmly in the MVP conversation as the season winds down. With a Tuesday evening matchup against the Indiana Fever looming, she could easily strengthen her case against a team decimated by injuries.

On Tuesday morning, just hours before the Mercury and Fever face off for the third time this season, the WNBA announced that Thomas was the WNBA's Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 13 of the 2025 season.

This is Thomas' second time winning the honor this year, as she also won it on July 15. Thomas earned this distinction after averaging a triple-double last week with 13.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists.

Included in these averages was a dominant performance in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks in which Thomas scored 12 points, dished out 15 assists and brought down 16 rebounds.

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas have been named the WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 13 of the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/IFgZsAIjyr
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 2, 2025

Indiana Fever-Phoenix Mercury Rivalry During the 2025 WNBA Season

The Fever and Mercury have developed a bit of a rivalry this season as they have played in several chippy games where they are constantly battling for home-court advantage and a favorable spot in the WNBA postseason.

Tuesday will mark the third matchup between the two franchises in 2025, the previous two of which resulted in a win and a loss for each team. The third game will serve as a tiebreaker of sorts.

Star Fever guard Caitlin Clark has not played in either matchup, and she will be out again on Tuesday. Wing Sophie Cunningham is also out for the season despite playing the two previous games against the Mercury, her old team.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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