When Alyssa Thomas signed with the Phoenix Mercury this offseason, it marked the end of an era for the Connecticut Sun and the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for both Thomas and her new team. After eleven seasons with the Sun, where she helped lead them to two WNBA Finals and four semifinal appearances between 2019 and 2024, Thomas’s quest for a championship ring has taken on renewed urgency. Now, with the Mercury, she finds herself at the heart of one of the most riveting playoff runs in recent memory.
The Mercury’s latest triumph—a gritty 89-83 overtime victory over the Minnesota Lynx on September 23, 2025—epitomized the resilience and tenacity that have defined Thomas’s career. Down by as many as 20 points midway through the third quarter, the Mercury could have folded. Instead, they clawed back, winning the third and fourth quarters and forcing overtime on a clutch three-pointer by Sami Whitcomb with just 4.3 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, Phoenix never looked back, outscoring the Lynx 10-4 and leveling the best-of-five semifinal series at one game apiece.
Thomas, as she has done so often, led the charge in the second half. She finished the night with a double-double—19 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists—scoring 14 of her points after halftime. Her relentless playmaking and court vision kept the Mercury within striking distance, and her basket with 25 seconds remaining in regulation cut the Lynx lead to just one point, setting the stage for Whitcomb’s heroics. “I’ve been chasing a championship for a long time, and I think this is our time,” Thomas said after the game, her determination clear for all to see.
But Thomas wasn’t alone in the Mercury’s comeback. Forward Satou Sabally was instrumental, pouring in a team-high 24 points—including five three-pointers—and grabbing nine rebounds. After a tough shooting night in Game 1, Sabally rebounded in spectacular fashion, making critical shots and, perhaps most importantly, dishing out the assist to Whitcomb for the game-tying three. Coach Nate Tibbetts didn’t hide his pride in his squad’s comeback mentality: “Pride and toughness. Grit,” Tibbetts said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our group for doing that.”
The Mercury’s bench proved decisive as well, outscoring the Lynx reserves 25-3. Kathryn Westbeld contributed key minutes and four steals, while Whitcomb finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Their energy and hustle helped Phoenix take 12 more shots than Minnesota in the second half, a testament to their relentless pursuit of every loose ball and rebound.
For the Lynx, the defeat was a bitter pill. Minnesota had dominated at home all season, finishing with a league-best 34-10 regular-season record and going 20-2 at the Target Center. They looked poised to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, but a 12-0 Mercury run late in the third quarter quickly evaporated their 20-point cushion. The Lynx committed seven turnovers in the third quarter alone—four of them in a brutal 65-second span—and struggled to regain composure. Coach Cheryl Reeve lamented her team’s lack of hustle and poor body language during the collapse. “We lost the game on hustle plays,” Reeve said. “We lost the game on guards not wanting to go get rebounds. So they flipped the script. We did it in the first game. They did it to us in this game. We weren’t strong enough. We weren’t tough enough. They ripped the game from us.”
Lynx star Napheesa Collier led her team with 24 points but echoed her coach’s frustration, focusing on the team’s unforced errors rather than her own offensive output. “Phoenix did a good job at coming out aggressive, but I think we beat ourselves, unforced turnovers,” Collier said. The Lynx, who were beaten in overtime of last year’s WNBA Finals by the New York Liberty, now face the daunting task of playing two consecutive games in Phoenix. To keep their championship hopes alive, they’ll need to win at least one on the road to bring the series back to Minnesota.
This Mercury team, though, has shown a knack for rising to the occasion. Their playoff journey began with a three-game slugfest against the New York Liberty—a series that saw Phoenix drop the opener at home before rallying to win the next two. Thomas was a standout in that series, averaging 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists, and making history with the first 20-point triple-double in WNBA playoff history during the decisive Game 3. Her 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in that win underscored her reputation as a postseason performer and further fueled Phoenix’s belief that this could be their year.
With other stars like Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper complementing Thomas’s all-around brilliance, the Mercury have developed a chemistry that belies their limited time together. Only two players returned from last season’s roster, but their ability to gel and compete in high-pressure moments has impressed both fans and observers. “These are experiences that our group has to go through,” said Tibbetts. “You look at a lot of the other teams that are playing together, they’ve been through these playoff battles together.”
The Mercury’s resilience was on full display as they fought back from adversity—not just in Minnesota, but throughout these playoffs. Their grueling travel schedule, which saw them crisscross the country between Phoenix, New York, and Minnesota, would have worn down a lesser team. Yet, Phoenix has embraced the challenge, leaning on their depth, defense, and the leadership of Thomas and Tibbetts. “We just kept fighting,” Tibbetts remarked, his excitement palpable. “Phoenix is going to be rocking. On Friday and Sunday, give them a little bit of life. It wouldn’t have been as fun going back down 0-2.”
For the Lynx, the upcoming games in Phoenix represent a critical test. Their championship pedigree, forged under Reeve’s demanding leadership and Collier’s emerging stardom, will be put to the ultimate test against a Mercury squad that refuses to quit. As Reeve put it, “It’s a resilient team. It’s a team that responds. Obviously they don’t feel great right now, but they’re problem-solvers. Nobody said it was going to be easy.”
As the series shifts to Phoenix, the Mercury have seized the momentum, buoyed by their comeback win and the prospect of playing in front of their home fans. With Thomas leading the way, and the supporting cast firing on all cylinders, the Mercury are just two wins away from a return to the WNBA Finals. The action continues Friday, and if the last game was any indication, fans are in for another thrilling chapter in this postseason saga.
