Alyssa Thomas After spending the first 11 years of his WNBA career as Connecticut Sun, he was featured as Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday afternoon. Attended was her latest teammate, Satou Sabally. He left the organization that drafted her Dallas Wings in the hopes of building something in Phoenix.
Sabury had his first question, asking jest to the WNBA's greatest triple double leader of all time. “How many triple doubles can I expect from you this season?”
Thomas laughs and jokes, making Sabbary the one making a shot of her.
“Engine” always makes a pass, as is often called.
Thomas' introduction marked the dawn of a new era in Phoenix. Returning Thomas, Sabbery and Mercury star Curly Copper forms the new Big Three in Phoenix. Guards Sami Whitcom and Sevigi Uzun, forward Natashamak and center Kalani Brown will likely close out their rotation. Britney Griner is no longer in the organization after choosing to join the Atlanta Dream in the offseason. Diana Taurasi's future remains uncertain.
Thomas is one of the new faces of the franchise. Face, and to join Phoenix in person for a formal introduction, Thomas flew from Miami. She is currently playing in the new professional women's 3-3 basketball league.
Here's what Alyssa Thomas had to say at her introductory press conference:
Alyssa Thomas is pursuing her first WNBA Championship
She reached the WNBA Finals and played consistently for some of the league's most won teams, but Alyssa Thomas hasn't reached the peak yet, so she actually secures the WNBA Championship.
In Phoenix, she hopes it changes.
“I'm very excited to be with this group,” Thomas said. “We all come from different backgrounds, different win backgrounds. It's time to go back to the playoffs, but I'm still chasing the championship so I'm going to join this group. I'm excited.”
Dewanna Bonner gushed about Mercury's fanbase
Thomas' fiancee, Dewanna Bonner, spent the first decade of her WNBA career in Phoenix, winning two championships and averaged double figures on average every season. Bonner will not return to Phoenix with her partner – she decides to take the talent to Indiana – but she will help her learn about the franchise that Thomas ultimately chose to join It played a role.
“She really appreciated the organization,” Thomas said. “She spent 10 years here. She knows a lot about the area, so I got a crash course about this organization. She's very much about the fanbase and all the people here. I'm talking high on. I'm really excited to experience it.”
Many speculated that Thomas' move to Phoenix signaled that Bonner, who is also a free agent, would follow suit. However, at her introduction press conference, Thomas said she and Bonner would never make a free agency decision from each other.
“We are both two different players,” she said. “We approached this free agency as “We both have our own careers.” Her decision was her decision, and my decision was mine. And in any case, we will support each other to the fullest extent. ”
Thomas brings Phoenix the same mindset she did in Connecticut.
Alyssa Thomas was a perennial MVP candidate. Last season, she averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.6 steals, while simultaneously pinning one of the league's best defenses.
“I don't think it's different,” Thomas said when asked about what her thinking would turn out as she began a new chapter in Phoenix. “I'm going to bring a competitive spirit offensively and defensively. The biggest thing is to help my teammates and get some simple shots. So I'm going to get a car. I'm hoping for that [Kahleah Copper] And atou [Sabally] Lots of simple shots. ”
SureFire has earned a star in its own right, and Bronze and Sabally have no trouble generating their own attacks. However, they still haven't played with a playmaker as versatile as Thomas, so they could easily lift the game to new heights.
“Defensively, I think we're very versatile. “And offensively, the floors will be very spaced. Push the tempo, so many great players, so many shooters. It would be so much fun to be surrounded by games. So, I really think the sky is a limit for us. I hope people are estimating us.
Thomas wants to leave a lasting legacy in Phoenix
Many good players have been suited for mercury for many years. This is no one other than Diana Tauracy, the WNBA's greatest scorer ever, spending 20 years with the organization. Mercury won three championships in 2007, 2009 and 2015. All under Taurasi's leadership.
A deep-rooted culture of victory appealed to Thomas.
“I think that's one of the reasons I came here: the history of mercury and how I won over the years,” she said. “Players like Diana” [Taurasi]bg [Brittney Griner]even db [DeWanna Bonner]they did great things for this organization. ”
At age 32, it feels like Thomas has more high-level basketball in the future.
“I'm not going to be anything different to what I was on my past Connecticut team,” she said. “I'm trying to win. I don't want to take it down. I want to continue playing at the same level and become the playoffs. The goal is the championship.”
