Mercury's Thomas: 'Goal is to win a championship'
After 11 campaigns with the Connecticut Sun, Alyssa Thomas will be in a new home next season.
But the five-time All-Star said Tuesday that she doesn't "plan on being any different" in Phoenix after the Mercury acquired her in January as part of a four-team deal.
"I'm trying to win. I don't want to drop off," Thomas added during her introductory press conference with the Mercury, according to ESPN's Kendra Andrews. "I want to continue to play at the same level, be in the playoffs, and the goal is to win a championship."
A title has alluded Thomas throughout her career, but the Mercury's offseason should have her optimistic. In the same deal that brought Thomas to Phoenix, the club acquired two-time All-Star Satou Sabally from the Dallas Wings.
The move paired them with 2021 WNBA finals MVP Kahleah Copper to form a new Big Three.
"We all come from different winning backgrounds and now we get a chance to be together and accomplish something, something different," Thomas said. "It's time to get back to the playoffs. I'm still chasing a championship, so just excited to be a part of this group."
Thomas still brings a loaded resume to Phoenix despite never winning a championship. The 32-year-old has earned six All-Defensive team selections and three All-WNBA team nods.
Phoenix general manager Nick U'Ren applauded Thomas' "contagious competitiveness" Tuesday, saying he expects her to "set a standard" among Mercury players.
"The word that comes to mind when I think of Alyssa is 'winner,'" U'Ren said. "There's not many players that will their teams to victory as often as you do. I think that you play with and you bring such a high level of intelligence and I don't think you can win at the highest level without a high level of intelligence. You raise the bar and you make them through the way you think the game."
Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in 2024, finishing in the top five in MVP voting for the third consecutive season.