The Connecticut Sun are preparing to honor franchise legend Alyssa Thomas by retiring her iconic No. 25 jersey during the organization’s emotional 2026 “Sunset Season.”

Thomas, who spent 11 seasons building her legacy in Connecticut before joining the Phoenix Mercury, reacted emotionally to the announcement following Phoenix’s loss to the Toronto Tempo. The veteran forward admitted the honor hit differently because of everything she invested into the franchise throughout her career.

Thomas is one of several franchise icons being celebrated before the Sun relocate to Houston in 2027. Alongside Thomas, the organization will also honor Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, Jasmine Thomas, and longtime coaches Curt Miller and Mike Thibault as part of the franchise’s farewell season in Connecticut.

Speaking after the Mercury’s loss to Toronto, Thomas reflected on what her time with the Sun truly meant to her.

“I spent 11 years of my career there,” Thomas said. “If you didn’t play there, you don’t understand Connecticut and what it meant to play there. So, I’m just honored to be honored by such a great franchise. Like I said, I gave my whole career to that franchise.”

The emotion behind Thomas’s reaction reflected the connection she built with the franchise after arriving in Connecticut as the fourth overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft. Over the next decade, she became the face of the organization and one of the defining players of an entire era of Sun basketball.

Thomas’s jersey retirement ceremony is scheduled for August 7 at Mohegan Sun Arena when the Mercury travel to face the Sun in a full-circle moment for both the player and the franchise.

Connecticut’s decision to raise Thomas’s No. 25 into the rafters before the end of her playing career speaks volumes about the impact she had on the organization both on and off the court.

Thomas leaves Connecticut as arguably the greatest player in franchise history. She remains the Sun’s all-time leader in games played, points, rebounds, assists, and steals while also ranking among the franchise leaders in blocks and double-doubles.

She also became the only player in franchise history to record triple-doubles and finished her Connecticut tenure with 11 triple-doubles, the most in WNBA history by a single player with one franchise. Across her 11 seasons, Thomas helped lead the Sun to two WNBA Finals appearances while establishing one of the toughest and most consistent playoff cultures in the league.

The timing of the ceremony carries even more emotional weight because 2026 marks the final Connecticut Sun season before the franchise officially relocates to Houston and revives the Comets identity in 2027.

For longtime fans, honoring players like Thomas has become a celebration of the culture, toughness, and consistency that defined Connecticut basketball for nearly two decades.

Following the franchise’s sale to the Fertitta family, the team will move to Houston beginning in 2027 and revive the historic Comets branding at Toyota Center.

That reality has transformed this season into a farewell tour of sorts for one of the WNBA’s most respected organizations, making Thomas’s jersey retirement feel even more significant.

Sun president Jen Rizzotti explained that the organization wanted to properly recognize the people who shaped Connecticut basketball throughout the franchise’s run.

“It’s incredibly important that we take the time to honor the people who built this franchise and shaped its identity over the last two decades,” Rizzotti said. “These players and coaches gave everything to this organization, to our fans, and to the state of Connecticut. Their impact goes far beyond wins and statistics.”

Phoenix Head Coach Nate Tibbetts Speaks Up on Connecticut Sun Retiring Alyssa Thomas’ Number

The Mercury locker room was understandably subdued after Phoenix dropped an 8-point home loss to the Toronto Tempo, but the conversation still shifted toward Thomas’s upcoming ceremony when head coach Nate Tibbetts addressed reporters afterward.

“I think it’s great that Connecticut is recognizing some of their great players,” Tibbetts said in reply. “I think it will be a special moment for her and a special moment for her family. They had tons of success there in Connecticut. And she should be proud of what she did. She’s getting to feel that love she deserves.”

For now, though, Thomas remains focused on helping Phoenix navigate the early part of the 2026 season. The Mercury dropped to 2-3 after a 98-90 loss to the Toronto Tempo despite another strong all-around performance from the veteran forward.

Thomas finished the night with 17 points, eight assists, and six rebounds while continuing to operate as the engine behind Phoenix’s offense. After helping lead the Mercury to the WNBA Finals during her first season with the franchise, expectations remain high around another deep postseason run.

Still, Connecticut has already made one thing clear before its final season comes to an end: Alyssa Thomas will forever remain part of the franchise’s identity. And on August 7, the Sun will celebrate one of the greatest players ever to wear No. 25.