Alyssa Thomas to have her number retired Friday in Uncasville

Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas (25) battles for position in a 2021 contest at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

In their final season in Connecticut, the Sun may not secured many wins on the floor this season but their efforts to honor the greatest players in team history before the team relocates to Houston this fall have been big victories for the franchise and their fans.

Alyssa Thomas, who helped the Sun play in two WNBA finals and reach the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, will have her number 25 retired during Friday night’s game against Phoenix at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Sun are hosting Thomas’ current team – the Phoenix Mercury in a game that begins at 7:30 p.m. will be broadcast nationally on the ION network, seen locally in Connecticut on WHPX, Channel 26 out of New London.

“I’m truly honored to be a Sun Legend,” said Thomas. “I’m forever thankful to be a part of the Sun’s franchise and family. I will forever remember all the memories we shared in Mohegan. This will always be home! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”

Thomas played 11 seasons in Connecticut from 2014 through 2024 before heading out to Phoenix as a free agent.

She ranks first in franchise history in games players (319), points (3,889), Rebounds (2,396), assists (1,473) and steals (494).

Fifteen times in Connecticut uniform she recorded a triple double – 10 or more points, rebounds and assists in a single game.

Thomas earned All-WNBA honors in 2023 and 2024 and second-team recognition in 2022. She was on the WNBA All-Rookie team in 2014.

She brought a defensive mindset and tenacity to the Sun that helped them reach the WNBA finals in 2019 and 2022, losing to Washington and Las Vegas, respectively.

Current Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White coached Thomas for two years in Connecticut, taking the Sun twice to the WNBA semifinals.

“She has been a winner everywhere she has been. She is one of the toughest competitors I have been around. She is a player who just has an unique skill set that makes everyone else around her better,” White said.

“She held herself to a really high standards. She was always going to be the hardest worker,” White said.  “She was always going to be the one that laid it on the line and because she did that she was able to hold everybody else accountable to the same standards.”

In her final season in Connecticut (2024), Thomas finished second in the MVP voting to New York’s Brianna Stewart in the closest race to date. Thomas had more first place votes (23) but finished seven points behind Stewart.

Thomas’ No. 25 will join coach Curt Miller, Jasmine Thomas (5), Jonquel Jones (35), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (11), Margo Dydek (12), Nykesha Sales (42), Katie Douglas (23), Lindsay Whalen (13), and Asjha Jones (15) in the rafters at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The final legend to be honored will be Mike Thibault on Sept. 20 against Minnesota.

It’s unusual for a team to retire the number of an active player but with the team moving to Texas next year, there is no guarantee that the Houston franchise would honor anyone from Connecticut. And its an opportunity for Sun fans to show their thanks.

Thomas, who played at the University of Maryland, was the No. 4 selection in the 2014 WNBA draft by New York and was immediately traded to the Sun. She grew up in Harrisburg, Pa.