Alyssa Thomas etches her name in Mercury lore during clash against the Valkyries

Phoenix Mercury Secure Home Win Against Golden State Valkyries, Thanks to Alyssa Thomas's Record-Breaking Performance

The Phoenix Mercury are maintaining their push for the playoffs, with a hard-fought victory against the Golden State Valkyries. The win, secured by Alyssa Thomas's 17th triple-double of the season, has propelled the team to a 22-14 record and third place in the Western Conference standings.

In a game that saw five Phoenix players score in double-digits, Thomas stood out with an impressive performance. She scored 13 points, dished out 16 assists, and grabbed 12 rebounds, setting a new record for the most assists by a Mercury player in a single game. This record-breaking performance also marked a new active playmaking record for the team.

Monique Akoa Makani led the scoring for the Mercury, making 6-of-9 shots from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range to finish with 18 points. Kahleah Copper contributed 12 points and four rebounds, while Sabrina Ionescu trails Thomas with four triple-doubles this season. Satou Sabally also scored 12 points and had five rebounds in the game.

The Mercury are currently 0.5 games behind the Las Vegas Aces and seven games behind the Minnesota Lynx in the race for the WNBA championship. However, their recent form, which includes this impressive win against the Valkyries, suggests they are not far off from challenging for the top spot.

The Mercury's next matchup is against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 26 at 10 p.m. ET. Following this, they will face the New York Liberty on the same day at 10:00 ET. As the playoffs approach, the team will be looking to build on their recent success and continue their push for the title.