Thomas 1st Sun player ever to post triple-double

The Connecticut Solar’s Alyssa Thomas recorded the franchise’s first triple-double Friday evening, tallying 15 factors, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 94-84 win at Minnesota.

It was the seventeenth triple-double in league historical past, together with postseason play, and sixth thus far in 2022, probably the most of any WNBA season.

The 6-foot-2 ahead had flirted with a triple-double earlier this season, together with in early June in opposition to Seattle when she completed with 12 assists, 11 rebounds and eight factors, however left factors on the board after lacking two free throws.

Thomas did not let the chance go to waste Friday, grabbing her tenth rebound to finish the triple-double within the last 20 seconds of the sport.

“I used to be making an attempt actually laborious,” Thomas mentioned. “My teammates instructed me I wanted, what, three extra [rebounds]. It was a group effort for me to get this tonight.”

Earlier WNBA triple-doubles this season had been achieved by the Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker (2), New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu (2) and Lynx’s Moriah Jefferson. Thomas was simply the eleventh participant to document one in WNBA historical past.

“It isn’t straightforward to do it at this degree, and so to get this tonight undoubtedly means loads,” Thomas mentioned.

Thomas is presently the longest-tenured member of the Solar, having performed her complete WNBA profession in Uncasville since being traded there shortly after being drafted in 2014.

“She skilled some down occasions,” head coach Curt Miller, who was employed forward of the 2016 marketing campaign, mentioned of Thomas. “Earlier than we received right here, they hadn’t gone to the playoffs three straight years [2013 to 2015]. Our first yr once I received there [2016] was the rebuilding yr so she needed to battle by a few of these years earlier than we turned the nook.

“Now since 2017, we have received probably the most regular-season video games within the league. She’s a giant a part of that and has been a staple in our franchise and has been a face of our franchise. Clearly we seek advice from her as our engine. It is becoming by all of the perseverance that she’s the one to document the primary triple-double.”

Thomas additionally surprised onlookers by returning to play for the Solar lower than 9 months after tearing her Achilles taking part in abroad in January 2021. After showing within the group’s last two regular-season video games, Thomas and Connecticut fell within the semifinals to the eventual champion Sky.

The Solar are nonetheless seeking to win the primary title in franchise historical past after making it to the semifinals or higher every of the previous three seasons, together with a five-game finals in opposition to the Washington Mystics in 2019. They know that crossing the end line would require standout play from Thomas, who has needed to tackle a bigger position as a facilitator after the season-ending harm to level guard Jasmine Thomas in Might.

Miller mentioned Thomas’ trademark grit has additionally been vital to the group’s success.

“What is no surprise is, you already know the competitor, you know the way she’s going to compete each day,” Miller mentioned of Alyssa. “And there is a consolation as a coach that you know the way laborious she’s going to guide by instance and play and simply will different individuals, and positively individuals feed off that.”