With major contributions from Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, DeWanna Bonner, and Tyasha Harris in Wintrust Arena, the Sun took over the Sky with an 83-75 victory. What further adds to Thomas’ celebration is her selection to the Team USA to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now, feeling pumped with this tremendous victory, Thomas shares her enthusiasm while looking back on the days passed.

Alyssa Thomas reflected on her Achilles injury that she sustained while playing overseas for USK Praha in the Czech Republic. This kept her from participating in the previous Olympic Games. “I’ve had a long journey. The last time there was the Olympics, I was recovering from my Achilles. So, I missed on that opportunity, but I never really saw it as a possibility, but never, you know, stopped working and I was fortunate to be selected for this team and I’m excited. I’m one of the older ones on the team but yeah I’m ready and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Alyssa Thomas, in a recent postgame interview.

Thomas spent a day before the game, celebrating the news of her making it to the team. Per the video posted on Instagram by USA Basketball, the USA 2024 Women’s National Team Committee Chair, Jen Rizzotti unveiled the jersey’s first look to Thomas and said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Women’s Basketball 5×5 National Team Committee, I would like to officially invite to be a part of the 2024 Women’s basketball Olympic Team.”

Smiling in contentment, Thomas called her mother and showed her the Olympic jersey while exclaiming, “I made the team. You can’t tell anybody.”

Thomas later described the moment and said, “I heard I had a meeting, so then when I came up and I saw the jersey, I was surprised. It’s been a long time coming, it’s something you grow up watching. To be a part of it is…I am just super excited.”

Now, let’s explore the injury that kept her from participating in the previous Olympics.

Alyssa Thomas getting off on the wrong foot

It was in January 2021 when Thomas tore her Achilles tendon while she was playing overseas for USK Praha in the Czech Republic. As a result, Thomas had to take an indefinite absence and underwent surgery in mid-January.

Not only did the injury threaten her participation in the 2021 WNBA season but also affected her stance in the Olympic Games that year. It was only a matter of time before it was certain she would miss the entire 2021 season in the league, given the injury generally takes 9-12 months to recover from.

But eventually, she did return, playing as a member of the 2022 USA World Cup Team. She averaged 9.9 points, 7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals, with an 8-0 record, and led the country to its 4th consecutive victory.

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