Mohegan — Alyssa Thomas is a cautionary tale for all of us in Connecticut, specific to the way we watch women's basketball. Generally speaking, this is how we watch it:

If you're from UConn, you're better than everyone else, just because, you know, you're from UConn.

If you're from elsewhere, you can't possibly be as good. You just don't win as much.

Which is fine. And also myopic. Because when they graduate college, there's no more Geno.

Example: How many true, blue women's basketball fans in this state would have said a few years ago that Thomas, a Maryland kid, would become a better pro than, say, Stefanie Dolson?

Dolson: UConn kid, popular, funny, champion, facilitator on offense.

Thomas: Couldn't beat UConn, can't shoot.

And yet had you watched what transpired Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, you'd have no other conclusion to draw that Thomas has emerged not only the better player, but among the most versatile and unique players in the WNBA.

Thomas' 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists led the Sun to a 93-72 win over Dolson and the Chicago Sky. No other number illustrated Thomas' impact on the game better than this: The Sun scored 25 more points than the Sky with Thomas on the floor.

She has the most assists among forwards in the WNBA, eclipsing 100 Tuesday night. She has more points, rebounds, assists, steals and free throw attempts than Dolson. And this takes nothing away from Dolson, who is averaging nearly 14 points per game and was named an all-star. But she just can't impact a game in the various ways Thomas can.

In the third quarter, Thomas drove to the basket three different times. She scored each time. And each time, a Chicago player ended up on her keister.

"Relentless. That's the word to describe her. She will flat out run you over," Sun teammate and fellow Maryland alum Lynetta Kizer said of Thomas. "You better stand your ground and you'll end up like some of the Chicago players were today."

Kizer has been in this league long enough to understand "relentless." Thomas' game is unique — not a very good shooter — but can negotiate her way to the basket.

"She's a bulldozer. I call her a bowling ball at times because she just bounces off people," Sun coach Curt Miller said. "Like pins falling at times. She gets her fair share of charges in this league, but we're better when she's in attack mode.

"We took a lot of off balance shots tonight. Poor shots. I thought we settled. When we would get to a second or third action (on offense), we got them more spread out. Some of those ended up in AT's hands. The defense moved, the congestion wasn't there and she could use her athleticism more."

Then there's her passing. She has 101 assists. As a forward. Consider than Sun point guard Jasmine Thomas has 105.

"An unbelievable weapon," Miller said. "You don't see that across the league top to bottom. You see what Candace Parker does for Los Angeles. She's the perfect person for how we want to play. A 'point forward' makes the offense work. Morgan (Tuck) does that also, but she's a different type of facilitator than AT. ... AT is enjoying the offense going through her. Right now people are having trouble figuring out how to guard her. A catalyst for what we're doing."

What they're doing: winning. They are 13-9. And fun to watch. Led by an unconventional forward. Who isn't so bad. Even if she's not from UConn.

"She's able to do everything," Kizer said. "She puts so much pressure on the other people's defense. She can attack the rim, pass the ball, and I think a lot of people sag off of her and it gives her the ability to pass and attack downhill. Then her heart and determination is something that really defines this team. It picks everyone up to another level. Our energy person."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro