WNBA free agency grades: Alyssa Thomas to the Mercury — A

After leaving the Connecticut Sun for Phoenix one year ago, Alyssa Thomas is expected to return to the Mercury this season. She was a huge factor in bringing the team back to the WNBA Finals in 2025, and while the rest of the core may look different, Thomas is the centerpiece of this team.

While there are still no reports yet on whether Kahleah Copper will also return to Phoenix, Satou Sabally has already announced she will not re-sign with the Mercury. That breaks up the three-woman core Phoenix had going in 2025, but if Copper comes back, they can still run back most of that group.

Called the “triple-double queen” by fans, Thomas averaged 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game in 2025 for the Mercury. A mainstay in the MVP conversation, Thomas has come close to a WNBA championship many times in her career with both Connecticut and Phoenix, but has yet to reach that final goal. The plan will be for Phoenix to contend again this season.

Re-signing Thomas is a huge part of that plan, and now the Mercury will work to surround her with a winning roster. Right now, the Mercury have the 7th best odds to win the WNBA Championship on FanDuel, at +1600.