Do you even consider someone worth calling an icon even without a WNBA ring? Maybe, but the list won’t be long. And even in that rare list, you will have to keep Alyssa Thomas. The 33-year-old will need a title to cement and fit into the idea of being in the best category. “She wants to win, she wants to win the championship bad,” said Dwayne Bonner, Thomas’ Mercury teammate and fiancée. “She’ll do whatever it takes.” Alyssa has been there, yet far.
Thomas has been here in this space before. She pushed the Aces to five in the 2020 semis after a dislocated shoulder playing for the Connecticut Sun. Next, she knocked out the Sky in 2022, stole games off the Aces in the 2022 Finals, and the superteam Liberty in 2023. If that wasn’t all, she forced five against the Lynx in 2024, plus she nearly walked off with Finals MVP in 2019. Each time she has fallen short, racking up playoff games without a title. But Alyssa isn’t alone.
Thomas has played 55* career playoff games (54 according to the ESPN post*), which is the second most without a title. You will never guess who has the most: her finals opponent, boss Becky Hammon, as a player (60 games). Hammon played initially with the New York Liberty, then with the San Antonio Silver Stars, who later became the Las Vegas Aces.
In her 15-year career, Hammon had 6 All-Stars and 2 WNBA First Team picks, one Finals appearance, where they lost 0-3 to the Detroit Shock. Hammon’s luck changed when she stepped into the coaching role with 2 titles to start with. This shared statistic between the two opponents has the WNBA fandom talking.
Alyssa Thomas and Becky Hammon’s tough luck sparks mixed reactions
Las Vegas wants another, but a few Aces fans are wishing for a Thomas ring. “Aces fan here, but nobody deserves it more! AT deserves it,” wrote one fan. There is not much argument against it. Ring or no ring, Thomas has been prolific in the playoffs year after year. That is despite her two labrum tears and Achilles injury. She has fought through it all but fell short at the final hurdle. Maybe this will be the year?
“Don’t worry, she will get it this year!” wrote another fan. Currently, Alyssa Thomas is down 0-1 in the seven-game series after choking on a couple of clutch free throws. Thomas was pulling MVP numbers in 2025 just to be outmatched by an alien like A’ja Wilson. ‘Underrated’ has been a chip on her shoulder for a long time. Thomas averages a whopping 15.6 points, 7 assists, and 8.4 rebounds in her playoff career with Connecticut and Phoenix.
“Well, it won’t be this year,” wrote another fan. But Alyssa will draw from her experience and every time she has suffered heartbreak to channel a comeback. She has already done it in the playoffs. After missing an open lay-up in that Game 1 loss against the New York Liberty, she came back by leading the Mercury to a 2-1 Round 1 win, which included a triple-double in the must-win Game 3. However, she is not the deserving one in everyone’s eyes.
“Better luck next time, gang,” wrote another fan. Aces have assembled a roster that should take the title back to Las Vegas. They lost out in the semis last year, and A’ja Wilson is having another 2024 kind of year after her 4th MVP. And just because a player has had a storied career doesn’t mean the game owes her a ring. At least that is the perspective of many fans, and current form has fans betting on the Aces to win it all.
“Well, it won’t be this year,” wrote another fan. But Alyssa will draw from her experience and every time she has suffered heartbreak to channel a comeback. She has already done it in the playoffs. After missing an open lay-up in that Game 1 loss against the New York Liberty, she came back by leading the Mercury to a 2-1 Round 1 win, which included a triple-double in the must-win Game 3. However, she is not the deserving one in everyone’s eyes.