Five‑time WNBA All‑Star Alyssa Thomas returned to Connecticut for the first time since her February sign‑and‑trade to the Phoenix Mercury. As the Mohegan Sun Arena jumbotron lit up with a two‑minute video chronicling her 11 seasons of grit and distinctive moments in the Connecticut Sun jersey, Thomas got emotional.
What followed was a standing ovation that turned the veteran forward’s homecoming into one of the season’s most poignant viral moments.
Alyssa Thomas Moved to Tears By the Connecticut Sun’s Tribute
Thomas spent 11 seasons anchoring the Sun’s frontcourt, earning five WNBA All-Star nods, 10 WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors, and helping Connecticut reach the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022. Teammates and fans even dubbed her “The Engine” for her high‑octane play. She was also part of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In February 2025, Connecticut agreed to a sign‑and‑trade, sending Thomas to the Mercury in exchange for Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and a 2025 WNBA Draft pick. This marked the end of Thomas’ long-standing journey with the Sun.
Meanwhile, the tribute clip was posted on Instagram by NBC Sports Boston on June 18.
As the cameras panned to Thomas, she had tears in her eyes, reliving her unforgettable moments with the Sun. She waved at the home crowd, then wiped her eyes and offered another gracious wave toward the fans and her former teammates.
View this post on Instagram
After the heartfelt tribute, Thomas poured in 14 points with 11 assists against her former team in an 83–75 Phoenix victory. It was a fitting showdown with an emotional farewell from her old team. Moreover, that night’s win pushed Phoenix to 9–4 on the season.
MORE: Doc Rivers Heaps Praise on Caitlin Clark
At 33, Thomas has shown no signs of slowing down. With Phoenix, she’s averaging 14.4 points, 9.0 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game this 2025 season. Back in 2024, in her 40 appearances for the Sun, she averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists.
Now, Thomas and her new team will face defending champions New York Liberty on June 19 at the Barclays Center. This will be followed by a matchup against the Chicago Sky on June 21, with a rematch against the Liberty on June 27 at home.
Connecticut will host the Dallas Wings on June 20 before heading out to face the Golden State Valkyries on June 22 and battle the Las Vegas Aces on June 25.
