EXCLUSIVE – Starting the Conversation: Alyssa Thomas

In this Sports360AZ exclusive, MVP candidate and Mercury superstar Alyssa Thomas gets real about mental health, leadership, finding her peace and getting away from the game when she can.

GET TO KNOW ALYSSA

Hobbies outside of basketball:

“Car detailing. I like to watch movies. Just chill out. I like to clean my car, [Teammate & Fiancé DeWanna Bonner’s] car. I like to keep ‘em pristine.”

After a grueling game or road trip, how do you unwind?

“I’m on the couch, probably washing laundry, catching up on my TV shows…I’m a big Dexter person.”

Players who inspired you growing up?

“Steve Nash. Manu Ginobli. Michael Jordan. Old school.”

LEADERSHIP & WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ELITE

How would you describe your leadership style?

“Depends on the day. If we’re not doing what we need to, then gotta light a fire a little bit. Directing traffic. Telling people what I’m seeing. Reading mismatches out there.”

What have you learned about yourself as a leader over the years?

“Everyone is different. My leadership here – I just need to be myself. Able to play my game. Make the reads that I see and try to teach my teammates along the way.”

How do you help your teammates when they go through tough times (injuries, being cut, etc.)?

“A lot of people come and go in the league, but I think the biggest thing is to always make yourself useful. Make it hard for them to take you off the court. Be able to do a little bit of everything. Just outwork people. There’s a lot of young people coming in the league that are gonna try to come for your spots but if you can do things that others can’t, it makes it hard to take you off the team.”

Methods for keeping your cool on the court?

“You know going into the game what kind of game it’s gonna be like and how teams are gonna play you. You just try to use it to your advantage. Teams that are overly aggressive probably play differently than other teams that sag back a little bit. For me, it’s just about reading what they give me.”

Injuries are part of the game, but how do you build your confidence back up knowing you’ll be the same player when you get back?

“That’s hard to see in the grand scheme of things when you start from ground zero. It’s baby steps.

For me, my Achilles, I had to learn how to walk all over again. Every step of the way, just celebrating the little things as you progress through. It helps a lot so that you’re not looking at just the big picture.”

Candace Parker said the WNBA was “my summer job”…playing year-round, even when we love what we do, how do you not get sick of it?

“That’s the key. You have to still love it. That’s why you see people change teams or go into different situations to re-spark the love for it. It’s a grueling season, especially if you’re playing two seasons a year. You gotta find a place that you have your peace.”

FINDING HER PEACE

How do you find your peace in this crazy world we live in?

“When I’m outside the gym – not really thinking about basketball. So much stuff going on social media and everything…I just tune it all out and focus on myself.”

Retreats or ways you get away between seasons?

“Honestly, this is probably my first offseason. I’m usually overseas. I had a little time off with [Bonner], the girls, just training a little bit. I hadn’t been home for Christmas, Thanksgiving in probably my whole entire career. Having those little moments, you miss a lot of little things, so to have all that back was nice this offseason.”

On the days that beat you down, as we all have, what gets you through the toughest days?

“That there’s gonna be another day. The tough days are really what make you. If every day was easy then everyone would be out here playing in the W. The hard days are for people who have the mental to push through and make you an even tougher player.”

Alyssa’s message about mental health:

“It’s a real thing. In the time of social media, so many people saying nasty things out there. Unwarranted things. At the end of the day, we’re all human beings and this is our job, just like they have jobs. There’s no need for the hate.”