{"id":622043,"date":"2026-05-04T01:31:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T01:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/622043\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T01:31:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T01:31:10","slug":"espn-lists-alyssa-thomas-kahleah-copper-among-top-players-ahead-of-2026-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/622043\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN lists Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper among top players ahead of 2026 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phoenix Mercury stars Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper were listed on ESPN\u2019s list of the 50 best WNBA players ahead of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

ESPN<\/a> listed Thomas as the second-best player, just behind the reigning league MVP, A\u2019ja Wilson, of the Las Vegas Aces.<\/p>\n

Kendra Andrews said Thomas\u2019 ability as a playmaker and her record-breaking season in assists make her one of the top players headed into 2026.<\/p>\n

Thomas had an MVP-caliber season in her first year with the Mercury, finishing third in award voting. One of the league\u2019s best playmakers, she led the WNBA in assists per game and broke the league\u2019s single-season assists record (357), finishing with at least 300 for the third straight season. Thomas also recorded eight triple-doubles \u2014 more than the rest of the league combined \u2014 to break her own single-season record (six in 2023).<\/p>\n

Acquired by the Mercury as part of a four-team trade in February 2025, Thomas shined her first season in Phoenix, averaging 15.4 points (on 53.2% shooting), a league-leading 9.2 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game. For her efforts, Thomas earned All-Star honors and was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the third time in her career. She finished third in MVP voting, behind Wilson and the Minnesota Lynx\u2019s Napheesa Collier.<\/p>\n

Thomas shined during the postseason, averaging 16.9 points (on 50% shooting), nine rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. She was one of the key players who helped Phoenix reach the WNBA Finals last season.<\/p>\n

Thomas signed a new deal<\/a> to return to Phoenix this offseason after being an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n

Copper listed outside top 10 of ESPN list<\/p>\n

ESPN ranked Copper as the 12th-best player in the league. Andrews noted Copper\u2019s ability to generate offense and her postseason performance last season as reasons for her placement on the list.<\/p>\n

Copper was the offensive centerpiece for the Mercury on their path to last year\u2019s WNBA Finals appearance. Her ability to generate offense for herself and her teammates is one of Copper\u2019s best attributes.<\/p>\n

Copper was another top player for Phoenix last season, despite the four-time All-Star missing the first 11 games because of left knee surgery. Copper also missed time in July with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n

In 28 games, Copper averaged 15.6 points (on 42.4% shooting), 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. She upped her play in the postseason, averaging 17.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.<\/p>\n

Copper re-signed<\/a> with Phoenix this offseason.<\/p>\n

DeWanna Bonner rounds out Mercury players on list<\/p>\n

Bonner was the final Mercury player on the ESPN list, ranked as the 47th-best player in the league. Andrews noted Bonner\u2019s play picked up in her return to Phoenix last season after a brief stint with the Indiana Fever.<\/p>\n

At 38, Bonner is the third-leading scorer in league history (7,807), eighth in career rebounds (3,204) and third in games played (535). After starting last season with the Indiana Fever \u2014 where she played just nine games \u2014 Bonner was putting up career-low numbers across the board. However, after requesting a trade, getting waived and then picked up by Phoenix, Bonner averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists through 24 games last season for the Mercury.<\/p>\n

The Mercury will begin their regular season in a WNBA Finals rematch against the defending champion Aces in Las Vegas on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Follow @Leasure96<\/a><\/p>\n

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