Another multi-time WNBA All-Star is on the move.

The Phoenix Mercury are finalizing a trade to acquire five-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA First Team forward Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun, a league source confirmed to .

The Mercury will receive Ty Harris in addition to Thomas, and the Sun will receive Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen and the 12th pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The Sun gave Thomas the core designation earlier in January, meaning the only way for Thomas to be moved was via a sign-and-trade, which cannot be made official until the start of free agency on Feb. 1. ESPN was first to report the news of the agreement. A league source unauthorized to discuss the matter publicly said that Thomas chose to play for the Mercury.

Thomas, 32, has spent her entire career in Connecticut after being the No. 4 pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft. She led the Sun to two WNBA Finals appearances and six consecutive WNBA semifinals and leaves as the franchise’s career leader in minutes, rebounds, assists, field goals, free throws and steals. Thomas also holds the WNBA record for triple-doubles, with 15 including the postseason.

Thomas previously re-signed with the Sun twice in free agency in 2018 and 2021. However, as the standard of player experience has improved across the WNBA, she has been vocal about Connecticut’s failure to keep pace, most recently calling out the organization for forcing the Sun to share the practice court with a child’s birthday party during the playoffs.

Phoenix, on the other hand, boasts the newest practice facility in the league, a 58,000 square-foot building dedicated solely for the Mercury’s use. The promise of the facility was enough to lure Kahleah Copper and Cloud to Phoenix last offseason. They can now add Thomas to that list.

The franchise was already poised for a transformative offseason with franchise stalwarts Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner’s futures in flux. Taurasi is considering retirement and Griner is testing free agency for the first time. Thomas’ arrival gives the Mercury an anchor in the frontcourt regardless of Griner’s plans, though the two have some experience playing together on the second unit of Team USA during the Paris Olympics.

This is the second straight offseason that the Mercury and Sun have made a deal, as Phoenix acquired Allen from Connecticut in a sign-and-trade for Moriah Jefferson in 2024.

The Thomas trade also reinforces the Sun’s current period of transition. Coach Stephanie White left the franchise in late October for the Indiana Fever, and it took until early December for the franchise to name former Belgium national team coach Rachid Meziane as its new head coach. General manager Morgan Tuck is also entering her first offseason in her role after receiving a promotion, with Connecticut’s past GM Darius Taylor moving to a new role as chief basketball strategist and director of scouting.

What it means for Connecticut

Winning has become commonplace for the Sun in recent years, as the franchise made six consecutive conference semis. How they proceed remains an open question, but no matter if Connecticut maintains deep playoff aspirations or not, they received a meaningful return for a player in Thomas who appeared ready for a change of scenery.

If the franchise holds onto Cloud, she could slide nicely into a backcourt with Marina Mabrey and DiJonai Carrington. Cloud and Allen both could also be dealt as part of future deals. Carrington is a restricted free agent and she, too, could be moved in a sign-and-trade, while Sun center Brionna Jones and wing DeWanna Bonner (who is also Thomas’ fiancée) could both sign elsewhere, too.

It’s unlikely that this will be the Sun’s last significant move of this offseason, but change isn’t all that surprising after both front office and coaching moves earlier this winter.

What it means for Phoenix

Phoenix gets a top-five player in Thomas and turns Cloud in Harris, who fits better next to Thomas because of their chemistry and her shooting ability, even if Harris isn’t the defender or playmaker that Cloud is. Copper will be an ideal partner in transition for Thomas, and the latter’s screening ability will help Copper find openings in the half court.

The Mercury now have two All-Star starters (Copper and Thomas) and two quality role players in Harris and Cunningham, but not much beyond that. They will have to be the most active team in free agency to fill all of the holes on their roster since they now have one pick in the 2025 draft. Luckily, they have desirable amenities and the promise of significant playing time to attract prospective players.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA

2025 The Athletic Media Company