Alyssa Thomas and Athlos: A Spotlight on Women's Sports in 2025

Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas has been named to the 2025 WNBA All-Defensive First Team, marking her seventh career selection to an All-Defensive team. This accolade highlights her significant contributions to the Mercury's defense, which recorded a 100.4 defensive rating, the team's best since 2019. Thomas tied for fifth in the league with an average of 1.6 steals per game and ranked third in defensive rebounds with 7.2 per game. The Mercury, who acquired Thomas in a four-team trade last offseason, are currently facing the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals, trailing 2-0 in the series.

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Simultaneously, the women's-only track and field startup Athlos is gaining momentum in its second year, spearheaded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Athlos aims to provide a platform for female athletes, offering immediate prize payments through a partnership with Cash App. The inaugural event in 2024 attracted 3 million viewers, and this year's edition features prominent athletes like Olympic champions Keely Hodgkinson and Tara Davis-Woodhall. Athlos has expanded its program to include field events and aims to establish a multimeet calendar by 2026.

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Alyssa Thomas and Alexis Ohanian are pivotal figures in their respective domains. Thomas's defensive prowess has been crucial for the Mercury, while Ohanian's vision for Athlos seeks to revolutionize women's athletics by prioritizing athlete compensation and recognition. Gabby Thomas, an advisor-owner at Athlos, is also notable for her advocacy for health equity, stemming from her experiences studying sociology at Harvard.

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Ohanian emphasized the importance of prioritizing athletes in the success of Athlos, stating, "You can't go too wrong if you're prioritizing the athletes." Gabby Thomas, despite being sidelined by injury, expressed her commitment to improving the sport, saying, "I want to leave every place that I go to better than I found it."

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While Athlos has garnered attention, it faces challenges, particularly in comparison to other track startups like Grand Slam Track, which recently faced financial difficulties. Critics question the sustainability of Athlos's model, especially in a sport where opportunities have dwindled.

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As the Mercury prepare for a critical Game 3 against the Aces, they hope to leverage home-court advantage to stay alive in the finals. Meanwhile, Athlos is set to announce new meet locations and a team format for 2026, aiming to build on its current success and expand its reach in women's athletics.

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• “We had probably three times, probably four times revenue this year, as a result of the fact that we were able to declare victory with that first event,” — Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of Athlos

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• “Alyssa Thomas can only take the team so far if there are no contributions from the bench.” — Analysis on the Mercury's playoff strategy

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In conclusion, both Alyssa Thomas's achievements in the WNBA and the rise of Athlos represent significant strides for women's sports, highlighting the ongoing efforts to elevate female athletes and provide them with the recognition and support they deserve.

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