Maryland Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame Spotlight: Alyssa Thomas

Simply put, Alyssa Thomas is the greatest and most versatile Maryland women’s basketball player of all-time. One glance at the program’s record book will tell you everything you need to know. 

The 6-foot-2 forward earned a gold medal representing the United States women’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, achieving one of the world’s most prestigious honors. However, on Oct. 18, Thomas will add another esteemed accomplishment to her name. She will be inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame for her achievements and contributions to Maryland women’s basketball while playing under head coach Brenda Frese from 2010-14. 

“She’s the greatest, not only in the history of women's basketball here at Maryland, but even potentially on the men's side as well,” Frese said. “She’s one of the greatest to ever come through Maryland. She made the Olympic team and was a three time player of the year. She just put her stamp and her legacy on everything.”

Thomas, 32, is Maryland's all-time leader in points (2,356), rebounds (1,235), scoring average (17.5 ppg), field goals made (890), free throws made (557) and starts (135). She started every game of her college career and is one of only three Terrapin women's basketball players with 2,000 or more points and 1,000 or more rebounds. The forward even ranks fifth in assists (488) and sixth in steals (238). 

Thomas’s career statistics are just one measure of her success in College Park. She was the first three time Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American and the first underclassman in school history to earn a WBCA All-America honor. She was also the first underclassman in school history to make the AP All-America First Team. 

Furthermore, Thomas was a four time All-ACC recipient with three first team selections. She was also a three time ACC Player of the Year, becoming only the second player in ACC history to achieve that feat. Thomas was even the first to earn ACC Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP honors in the same season (2012). 

“Honestly, I didn't go in thinking I was going to break records,” Thomas said. “One of the things when you come on your visit is they take you on the court, and they show you jerseys in the rafters and tell you, ‘This could be you one day.’ Even then, I didn't think much of it. I was just coming in to play the game that I love to play.”

Growing up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Thomas began playing basketball at age 5. Still, she says basketball wasn’t her first love. She loved soccer but eventually began focusing on basketball, playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and for her local high school, Central Dauphin. 

At Central Dauphin, Thomas became the all-time leading scorer. She was named to the 2010 Parade All-American First Team. She was also a unanimous ESPN and USA Today All-American while simultaneously being selected as the Pennsylvania AAAA State Player of the Year. She even won a state championship as a sophomore. But Thomas says she flew under the radar initially because of several injuries she sustained. 

Everything changed when Thomas competed in a small AAU tournament in Maryland. Frese was one of the first to recruit Thomas. Shortly after, the University of Maryland was one of her first visits. Frese says she debated chasing some recruits playing for USA Basketball and overseas or attending the tournament, knowing it would be her only opportunity to watch Thomas play. 

“From the minute I saw her in warm-ups, I had chills,” Frese said. “She just jumped off the page with her athleticism and skill. … The amount of triple-doubles she's had between college and now in the WNBA, the kid is just a winner. She's not just about scoring points. It's about impacting the game every possession, whether that's defensively or offensively. That’s what made her so special.”

Despite garnering interest from schools such as Notre Dame, Penn State, Miami, and NC State, Thomas’ visit to College Park was enough to make her a Terp. The family atmosphere created by Frese and the basketball program was the primary catalyst. 

“From the moment I stepped on the campus, it just felt like home for me,” Thomas said. “The coaching staff and the players, I felt like it was a great fit for my style of play.”

Thomas’s freshman year at Maryland was accompanied by immediate success. She finished with ACC Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team honors. Frese says Thomas rose to the occasion once finding out she would shoulder the responsibility of being a day-one starter and impact player.

“The best of the best realize that if you have an off game or you don't show up, your team's going to lose,” Frese said. “Alyssa was the one that showed up every game.”

As a sophomore in 2012, Thomas and the Terps went 31-5 and captured the ACC tournament title with a 68-65 win over Georgia Tech. Thomas was named to the All-ACC Tournament team. Maryland also made the NCAA tournament Elite Eight game as Thomas achieved All-Regional Team honors. 

Thomas’ junior year in 2013 ended with an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. She also made the All-ACC Tournament team for the second year. Thomas then teamed up with Brionna Jones in the frontcourt for her final season as a Terp. 

Thomas led Maryland to an NCAA Final Four appearance while being named the regional Most Outstanding Player in 2014. She also won the Mary Garber Award as the ACC’s female athlete of the year. Thomas collected 381 rebounds in 2013-14, which remains a single season program record. 

Jones recalled a particular moment when Thomas spoke with the team ahead of the Terps’ 2014 Final Run run. It encapsulated Thomas’ unselfishness and desire for the team to succeed, placing it above her personal accomplishments. 

“We were just talking and everything,” Jones said. “She's like, ‘I just really want that for you guys, for the team. I want you guys to be able to experience what a Final Four is.’ Her way of thinking was that it wasn't even for herself. She wanted it for us. … I think that just shows how selfless she was and is.”

The Terps compiled a 109-28 record during Thomas’ career. Her jersey number was retired and hung in the XFINITY Center rafters on her Senior Day before her college career ended.

She credited Frese and assistant coaches David Adkins, Tina Langley and Marlin Chinn as the collective group that allowed her to become a better athlete. Thomas also addressed all her teammates as equally instrumental in her development. 

“I definitely appreciate the group that I played with,” Thomas said. “They’re a huge reason for why I am where I am today. I wouldn't change that experience for the world.”

Thomas was drafted No. 4 overall by the New York Liberty and traded to the Connecticut Sun during the 2014 WNBA Draft. She and Jones reunited in 2017, as Jones was selected No. 8 by the Sun. 

Thomas recently wrapped up her 11th season with the Sun and has numerous accolades, cementing herself among the best at the professional level. The veteran is a five time WNBA All-Star, three time All-WNBA selection, six time WNBA All-Defensive team selection and the WNBA’s All-Time Leader in regular-season and postseason triple-doubles. 

In 2023, Thomas broke the WNBA single-season record for assists (316) and double-doubles (28) while finishing second in the WNBA Most Valuable Player race. She’s the Sun’s franchise leader in career games played, rebounds, assists and free throws made. In 2022, the forward was even named AP Comeback Player of the Year. 

“A lot of people with that kind of success and accolades might see an ego change,” Frese said. “The greatest gift between her parents keeping her humble and Alyssa keeping herself humble is she's always the same person. She always comes back to see us. … She's the greatest player to ever come through here and has always remained grounded and stayed true to who she is.”

In addition to Thomas’ gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Thomas was a part of the 2022 U.S. national team that won gold at the World Cup. 

Thomas’s accomplishments, both collegiately and professionally, are virtually endless. However, Jones says what separated her from the many great Terrapin women’s basketball players was her embodiment of the program.  

“She encompasses all of it,” Jones said. “That family aspect, she was bringing everybody along with her. That competitive fire, you were watching her give everything every possession. That made you just want to go just as hard. Then, knowing off the court, she has everybody’s back. I think that just sets the tone for the culture. Credit to Brenda but also Alyssa for being able to build that culture, continue that culture and push it forward. She's left a legacy of what it takes to play at Maryland.”