NEW YORK, July 10, 2017 – Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun and Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury today were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played July 3-9.

Thomas earned Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks as she continues the best season of her four-year career.  In guiding the Sun to a 2-0 week, Thomas led Eastern Conference players in steals (4.5 spg), ranked sixth scoring (16.0 ppg), tied for seventh in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and tied for fourth in assists (5.0 apg).

The 6-2 forward opened her week with 13 points, eight rebounds, a career-high seven steals and five assists in an 89-56 road win over the San Antonio Stars on July 5.  The former University of Maryland standout then recorded 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals as Connecticut extended its winning streak to four games with a 96-92 home victory against the Washington Mystics on July 8.  The Sun finished the week in first place in the East with a 10-7 record.

Griner earned Player of the Week honors for the first time this season and the fourth time in her five-year career.  Behind the 6-9 center, Phoenix went 3-0 for the week and improved to 10-6 overall.  Griner paced Western Conference players in scoring (25.3 ppg), rebounding (11.7 rpg) and blocks (4.67 bpg).  She also tied for the conference lead lead in field goal percentage (.682, 30-of-44).

On July 5, the former Baylor star posted 30 points, a season-high 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in an 88-80 win against the visiting Mystics.  Two days later, she tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in a 92-77 road victory over the Stars.  Griner closed the week by scoring 31 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking six shots in an 81-69 home win against the New York Liberty on July 9.

Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were the Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot, the Dallas Wings’ Skylar Diggins-Smith, New York’s Tina Charles and the Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart.

For more information on the WNBA Players of the Week, visit www.wnba.com/awards.

2017 WNBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Week Ending            East Player                   Team                      West Player                      Team
5/21/17                       Layshia Clarendon         Atlanta                  Sylvia Fowles                      Minnesota
5/28/17                      Epiphanny Prince         New York               Sylvia Fowles                      Minnesota
6/4/17                        Tina Charles                   New York              Diana Taurasi                      Phoenix
6/11/17                       Tina Charles                  New York                Sylvia Fowles                      Minnesota
6/18/17                      Jonquel Jones               Connecticut            Candace Parker                  Los Angeles
6/25/17                      Alyssa Thomas             Connecticut            Skylar Diggins-Smith        Dallas
7/2/17                        Jasmine Thomas          Connecticut            Candace Parker                  Los Angeles
7/9/17                        Alyssa Thomas              Connecticut            Brittney Griner                   Phoenix

The 2017 WNBA regular season runs through Sept. 3.  For more information on the WNBA and game tickets, fans may visit www.wnba.com.