Alyssa Thomas · In a modern-day WNBA where cleared-out floors and volume 3-point shooting stand as the preferred method for most championship hopefuls, Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun continue to find all of the space they need inside the long-range arc. Unguarded just inside of the perimeter area and equally unbothered by it, the 2023 WNBA Most Valuable Player runner-up bides her time, patiently awaiting the finish of her teammate’s cut before slinging a heads-up pass over the Los Angeles Sparks’ defense for an alley-oop feed. In need of only five shot attempts to make an indelible mark on the Sun’s win on June 18, 2024, Thomas was predictably multifaceted, offering up 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, joining each of her starter teammates in the double-figure scoring column. A key variable within a Connecticut defense that parlayed 24 turnovers into 30 points, Thomas played her part in helping sustain the blazing-hot start, guiding the Sun to a 13-1 open to the 2024 campaign. · State of Mint · State of Mint