Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas shares troubling 2026 outlook after Toronto loss

PHOENIX– Alyssa Thomas’s standard is simple: play defense, or as she said during media day, be a Top 3 defense. On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury showed no signs of that promise, losing 98-90 to the Toronto Tempo.

Although Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey combined for 62% of Toronto’s points, it was how the perimeter defense was. Plenty of possessions ended in a blow-by or a 3-point shot.

During training camp, Thomas’s influence was visible on the Mercury newcomers. Five games later, she still has that standard. Nonetheless, it left Thomas and her teammates frustrated.

“I think we’re nowhere near where we need to be defensively,” Thomas explained postgame. “It’s gonna be a long season if we don’t get it together on the defensive end.”

Alyssa Thomas with a stern message after giving up 98 points vs Toronto.

“I think we’re nowhere near where we need to be defensively. It’s gonna be a long season if we don’t get it together on the defensive end.”

Q- @StephenPG3 pic.twitter.com/wFOkplbwDY

— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) May 20, 2026

The 3-point field goal discrepancy was obviously large, but it was the attempts, too. Toronto took 36 compared to Phoenix’s 22. Granted, they are still missing Monique Akoa Makani and Sami Whitcomb, but there is more beneath the surface.

There isn’t a clear commitment on the defensive side. For instance, Kahleah Copper shared postgame that there were too many instances of the team playing one-on-one with the Tempo.

It played perfectly into their hands.

Alyssa Thomas’s remarks have the Mercury looking in the mirror

This time last season, the Mercury developed a strong defensive identity. This was Thomas’s first season, but she also had Satou Sabally alongside her.

However, both Copper and Natasha Mack were both out. Still, the identity loomed large, and what got them there seems to have evaporated in the Phoenix heat.

Luckily, it is only five games into the season but there is a cause for concern. They have allowed 80+ points in the team’s last three games, with two of those being losses of 93 and 98 points, respectively.

The biggest factor: opposing 3-point shooting. Both the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto are heavily reliant on the deep ball, and the Mercury didn’t have an answer.

Context is important, but so are the numbers. They are bottom five in opposing 3-point field goal makes and percentage. For a team that prides itself on that side of the floor, it’s not good.

There will be a chance to turn it around on Thursday as the Mercury will take on the Los Angeles Sparks. But the next 24 hours might be a rude awakening for the team that appeared in the WNBA Finals to do a defensive 180 to get back to where they’re used to being.

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