Alyssa Thomas performed at an excellent level in the Phoenix Mercury’s matchup against the New York Liberty on Saturday night. Her efforts even drew a comparison to NBA star Damian Lillard from her head coach.
In 31 minutes of action, Thomas finished with a stat line of 14 points, nine assists and five rebounds. She shot 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Thomas has been playing at a high level for the Mercury this season. She is averaging 15.8 points, 9.2 assists, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game after 34 appearances. She is shooting 54% overall and 70.4% from the charity stripe.
Nate Tibbetts reflected on Thomas’ performances before the team’s matchup against the Liberty, via reporter Hayden Cilley. He compared her to Lillard, a star guard he worked with for eight years as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2013 to 2021.
“I was lucky enough to be around Damian Lillard for 8 years,” Tibbetts said pregame. “As far as like daily leadership and stuff like that, Dame is as good as it gets.
“From a competitive standpoint, wanting to win and everything, AT is on a level by herself.”
How Alyssa Thomas, Mercury Played Against Liberty
GettyAlyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury attempts a shot over Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty during the first half of the WNBA game at PHX Arena on August 30, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Liberty 80-63. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It’s significant praise for Alyssa Thomas to get from Nate Tibbetts, especially after getting the Damian Lillard comparison.
Thomas has shined as a star in the WNBA, doing it throughout her career with the Connecticut Sun and Mercury. She continues to fill the stat sheet, being a potent triple-double threat for opponents to deal with.
Her efforts in the Mercury’s 80-63 win over the Liberty only added to her case as one of the best stars in the league.
Both teams were competitive to start the game, exchanging blows as New York originally led 39-37 at halftime. Despite this, the Mercury gained all the momentum by overwhelming their opponents 43-24 in the second half. New York also couldn’t make of their shots down the stretch, heavily playing to Phoenix’s advantage.
Perimeter shooting and turnovers were major factors in this contest. Phoenix succeeded in these stats, making 12 triples with a 44.4% accuracy while having 12 turnovers. It wasn’t the same case for New York, knocking down eight 3-pointers on 32% accuracy while turning the ball over 16 times.
Three players reached double figures in scoring on Phoenix’s behalf, including Thomas. Kahleah Copper was effective with 22 points, two rebounds and a steal. She shot 7-of-15 overall, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Satou Sabally came next with 14 points and four assists, while DeWanna Bonner provided nine points and seven rebounds.
Phoenix improved to a 25-14 record on the season, holding the third spot of the Western Conference standings. They are 0.5 games behind the Las Vegas Aces and six games behind the Minnesota Lynx.
With five games remaining, the Mercury will look to extend their four-game win streak in their next matchup. They will be at home, hosting the Indiana Fever on Sept. 2 at 10 p.m. ET.
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