Thomas takes new leading role with Sun
This January the Connecticut Sun were hit with their biggest offseason blow.
Star forward Alyssa Thomas tore her Achilles’ tendon playing overseas in the Czech Republic and would be out the 2021 season recovering from the injury that can take anywhere from nine to 12 months to fully heal.
However, the injury, and its recovery process, hasn’t stopped Thomas from continuing to lead the team — even if it’s from the bench.
“I’m just used to always being on the court and just leading by example and playing hard and now not being able to get on the court with them, I’m just out there trying to coach what I see and communicate and try to help them however I can,” said Thomas, a member of the 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team, during the Sun’s media day on May 5.
During training camp, players have said Thomas has become almost like a fourth coach to the team. She uses her voice on the sideline to help correct and teach players, sometimes pulling them aside one on one after a drill to tell them what they did wrong and how they can improve.
“Even though she’s not playing this year, you wouldn’t know it based off of how much she still communicates with us on the side,” Sun rookie DiJonai Carrington said.
Sun head coach Curt Miller said it’s Thomas’ ability to talk to the players like a peer, rather than a coach-to-player conversation, that has helped the team handle constructive feedback during camp.
“AT is lending a great voice, active voice in practices,” Miller said. “There’s a challenge by her for players to play better, to be sharper, to stay focused. She’s doing a really good job grabbing players one on one and speaking to them one on one. She just is really basketball smart so she sees things and as a peer, can grab their attention and sometimes be very critical of them and players don’t take it as personally. Sometimes a peer can say something even more critically than maybe a coach can and they respect it because they know that they also go out there and do it.”
For Carrington, Thomas has helped her transition into the fast pace of professional basketball by teaching her how to slow the game down and control herself.
“That’s been the biggest thing,” Carrington said.
“Every time I come on the side, she’ll look at me, especially if she can see that the wheels are turning, she’ll just tell me, ‘Slow down. Take a deep breath when you catch the ball. Wait for your screens. Wait for this, wait for that.’”
During Morgan Bertsch’s time at camp, Thomas helped push her to be aggressive and physical. When the team was practicing doubleteam situations last week, Thomas pulled her aside and told her, ‘Don’t be afraid to get uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to just kinda go crazy, go over there and be disruptive.’
The next time Bertsch went through the drill, she said she “just like went crazy,” and caused a turnover.
“I thought that was really helpful and it was cool just to have a veteran, someone that you, you know, I’ve watched her on TV and then to now have her come out here and like be trying to teach me, trying to help me is pretty awesome,” Bertsch said during last week’s Media Day.
Those who have played with Thomas prior to this season see a more vocal,
and more patient, version of the eight-year veteran. When training camp first started, Connecticut was missing a handful of its veteran players due to overseas commitments. Having Thomas help navigate the incoming players was helpful for both the new players and the few veterans.
“She’s at every practice with us, from start to finish,” said DeWanna Bonner, a 12-year veterarn. “Helping me out a lot because this is new to me. I don’t know if I’ve been on the court with this many new people, young people, at a time. … She sees it all. She’s been very vocal. So thankful that she’s here and thankful that she’s going to be at all our practices, it really helps a lot.”
Thomas had successful surgery on her Achilles on January 19. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson, an associate team physician for the Green Bay Packers.
The two-time WNBA All-Star told media on May 5 that she was feeling good and feeling better each day.
“Rehab is tough of course, but every day I’m feeling stronger and more and more like myself,” Thomas said. “I get in early every day and bang out my workout, my rehab, and I’m in practice, watching practice each and every day and now it’s just about fine tuning and really getting ourselves ready for opening day. So for me, it’s just pointing out what I see and trying to help them as much as possible.
“That’s why I’m here. I’m here to help the younger players and help them get better and feel comfortable.”
Last season, Thomas helped carry the Sun to the WNBA semifinals and led the team with 9.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. She was second after Bonner with 15.5 points per game.
When the Sun open the season Friday at Atlanta, they know they’ll have to fill in for her on the court but also know her presence on the sideline will help carry them through.
“She is our leader,” said Kaila Charles. “AT, even though she’s not on the court, she’s having a big impact off the court and we can’t wait to have her back. But now we’re just listening to her voice and just trying to make up for what she used to bring to the team.”
TEAM UPDATES
The Sun have gone through two additional rounds of roster cuts since last week’s media day. On May 10, Connecticut waived two-round draft pick Micaela Kelly, Bertsch and Feyonda Fitzgerald. On Tuesday, May 11, the team also waived third-round draft pick Aleah Goodman and Brianna Fraser. Connecticut has until 5 p.m. on May 13 to make final roster cuts.