What happened: Alyssa Thomas is the WNBA's league leader in assists. The distributing forward has anchored her offense as its primary playmaker, setting the pace across the league in setup passing.

Why it matters: An assists lead from a frontcourt player is unusual and underscores Thomas's role as a point-forward hub who initiates offense rather than simply finishing it. That playmaking volume shapes how her team runs its sets and elevates the scorers around her.

What to watch: Watch whether Thomas holds the top assist spot as the regular season progresses and how her playmaking translates in high-leverage matchups.