When Monique Akoa Makani came to the U.S. for the first time in late April, taking a risk on the WNBA even though unsure if she was prepared, she didn’t know of Alyssa Thomas.
Or for that matter, what a point forward is.
Five months later, Akoa Makani is a 47-game starting point guard for the Phoenix Mercury, playing in the WNBA Finals starting Friday as a 24-year-old rookie. And fully appreciative of Thomas and what she is learning daily from the league’s third-place finisher in Most Valuable Player voting.
“I haven’t ever played with a point forward before,” Akoa Makani said. “The concept was very new. She’s a point guard in terms of the way she knows the game is able to direct people,” like an orchestra conductor. “I’ve learned a lot from that.
“Having a point forward combined with a good point guard, magic can happen.”
Thomas, at 33, has been nothing short of a Houdini, nearly averaging a triple-double and leading the league in assists with a career high 9.2 per game.
She’s answered all the questions about who would be the Mercury’s prime ball handler asked during free agency and beyond of Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren.
“I’m a sucker for high-level passing, especially big that can pass,” U’Ren said in February when Thomas was first introduced after being acquired in a trade. “It’s a rare skill. It’s something that opens up the floor for everybody. Not only is she good at it, she’s elite at it.”
The Mercury still aggressively recruited Akoa Makani, signing her in March and convincing her to leave Charnay Basket during the French League playoffs in order to be in Phoenix from the outset of training camp.
The Cameroon native had 22 points, 10 assists and eight steals in a Charnay quarterfinal playoff win April 22 then departed for an adventure that she could scarcely imagine would culminate in the WNBA Finals.
Being the secondary floor leader has allowed Akoa Makani, even as a starter, to develop at the less pressurized pace and contribute in other ways including with nearly 40 percent 3-point shooting and on defense. Her 2.7 assist average was third best among WNBA rookies and she tied for first in rookie plus-minus (4.0).
“AT (Thomas) really helped Mo especially the first 6-7 weeks she was here,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “AT has such a presence and wants the game to be played at a certain level. Mo was coming over here, first time being in this country and being around a whole new team and organization.
#Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts on how PF Alyssa Thomas helps rookie PG Monique Akoa Makani #wnbafinals pic.twitter.com/yzX3CHR3A2
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) October 2, 2025
“We threw her in the fire to start. AT has given her confidence and challenged her in different ways. We’ve put Mo on some of the best guards in our league and for the most part she’s done a good job. When she takes a step back or isn’t as ready on a possession, AT is the first one to challenge her.”
Akoa Makani is a willing student when it comes to learning from Thomas, who at 6-2 is three inches taller and more powerfully built.
Thomas goes by the nickname Engine and Akoa Makani easily qualifies as the Little Engine That Could with her I think I can mentality.
“She’s really close to me in terms of talking and making me understand,” Akoa Makani said. “I feel like I’m in school, all excited to learn new things about the game.
“I don’t know how long she’s planning to play, but if I keep playing with her even one or two more years, I’m going to be the best I could ever be in this league.”
Akoa Makani did not make the WNBA all-rookie team despite solid credentials. That team, headed by Dallas’ Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, includes another Cameroon native, Seattle’s Dominique Malonga.
“I got off social media for the postseason,” said Akoa Makani, who was informed by Tibbetts about the all-rookie selections. “My mind wasn’t focused on that to be honest. It would have been a great accomplishment because you’re only a rookie one time. But it’s also part of the game – you win, you lose.
“If you asked me to pick between all-rookie and being WNBA champion, you know the choice.”
Thomas also is seeking her first WNBA title, in this her third Finals. Mercury players already with at least one WNBA championship are Kahleah Copper (2021 Finals MVP for Chicago vs. the Mercury), Bonner and Whitcomb.
So far in seven playoff games against New York and Minnesota, Thomas is averaging 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists. Akoa Makani, playing sparingly in the fourth quarter when Tibbetts leans on veterans DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb, is averaging 5.7 points and 2.5 assists.
The best-of-7 Finals first two games (Friday and Sunday) are in Las Vegas then the Aces come to Phoenix for Games 3-4 (Oct. 8 and 10). Games after that, if necessary, alternate sites.
“I have one job, to run as fast as she (Thomas) does or even faster than her and get ready,” Akoa Makani said. “She’s a human being at the end of the day. Sometimes she doesn’t make the greatest choice, but she still finds something. That’s what we’re looking for. That’s a part of me trying to get into her skin to see how she really lives the game.”
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