UNCASVILLE, Conn.– Alyssa Thomas had no concept that she was closing in on repossessing the WNBA’s single-season help record.
She was simply concentrated on trying to help her team win and improve their playoff positioning.
She topped Caitlin Clark ‘s mark of 337 assists set last season, yet Thomas’ Mercury came up short versus the Connecticut Sunlight on Saturday, falling 87 – 84
“Truthfully I didn’t know that I was also close,” Thomas stated. “I really did not concentrate on that, yet definitely credit report to my colleagues I can’t do it without them. It’s been a wonderful modification for me this year with a new infraction that simply allows me to go out there and make the reads that I need to make.”
Thomas needed six helps coming into Saturday’s game against Connecticut, where she starred for many years before leaving for Phoenix this period as a free agent.
“It was my home for 11 years and it was awesome to be able to do it in front of them,” Thomas said. “It all began right here so yeah it’s amazing, a full-circle moment.”
She got the record-breaking one on a 3 -tip by Kathryn Westbeld in the edge with 4: 45 left in the 2nd quarter. She completed the game with 10 to provide her 342 this period.
“I have actually been lucky to be surrounded by many terrific 3 -point shooters so they make my job simple,” Thomas stated. “I strike the open individual et cetera gets on them to hit the shot. Credit scores to them they have my back like that.”
Thomas held the record in 2023 with 316 aids when she played for Connecticut. Clark broke it a year later on as a newbie. Now the 33 -year-old Thomas, who likewise holds the WNBA document for triple-doubles in a period and career, has it back again. She only needed 37 video games to reclaim that mark.
What’s most remarkable concerning Thomas’ achievement is that she’s done it from the forward position. Since her time with the Sunlight, Thomas has actually been a point-forward, facilitating the Mercury’s offense. A lot of her assists this year have actually begun 3 -guidelines with virtually half of them coming on shots from behind the arc.
She’s seventh on the league’s job help list with greater than 1, 800 assists– the only forward in the top 10
Thomas has balanced a career-best 9 2 aids this period, which is short of Courtney Vandersloot ‘s document of 9 95 set in 2020