Unable to play this season after an Achilles tear, Alyssa Thomas is embracing a new role coaching, guiding her Connecticut Sun teammates

The Connecticut Sun were working on double teams in practice recently when Alyssa Thomas pulled aside Morgan Bertsch, one of the team’s training camp invitees.

“She was like, ‘Be more aggressive,’” Bertsch said. “‘Don’t be afraid to get all up in their space and make it really uncomfortable for this post player.’”

Bertsch took that advice to heart, and the next time she was on the floor, she “just went crazy” and caused a turnover.

“See?” Thomas pointed out to Bertsch. “That’s what I’m saying.”

Thomas, a WNBA All-Defensive first-teamer last season, has always tried to lead by example, particularly through her aggressive play, toughness and will to win. Along the way, she’s earned the title of the Sun’s “engine” in her eight-year career in Connecticut.

This season, she’s still leading, but in a different way. A January Achilles tear means she will miss the season, so Thomas has had to learn to be more vocal from the sidelines. In fact, Bertsch and other teammates say Thomas has become another coach.

“I’m used to always being on the court and leading by example and playing hard,” Thomas said Wednesday. “Now, not being able to get on the court with them, I’m just out there trying to coach what I see and communicate and try to help them however I can.”

The Sun kick off their 2021 season May 14 at Atlanta before opening at home on May 16 against Phoenix.

Thomas has long been a fixture in the Sun’s system, spearheading what they do defensively, running much of their offense and consistently taking her game to the next level in the playoffs. Her injury was a devastating blow for Connecticut’s championship dreams, especially since this was supposed to be the season where Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Jonquel Jones took the court together for the first time. In the 2020 regular season, Thomas ranked first on the team in rebounds (9.0), assists (4.8) and steals (2.0), and was second in scoring (15.5) and minutes (32.8)

After the Sun re-signed Thomas, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, to a multiyear deal, she returned to Connecticut for training camp to rehab and make her presence felt, even if she couldn’t be on the floor.

“Just to even be back in Connecticut, to have an actual training camp, has been nice,” Thomas said. “I’m just happy to be back and be back with familiar people.”

Sun head coach/general manager Curt Miller has been pleased with his star’s recovery so far. So has Thomas.

“I’m feeling good,” she said. “Rehab is tough, of course, but every day I’m feeling stronger and more and more like myself.”

Thomas’ input is especially valuable this training camp, as the Sun are still without three of their starters from last season (Jones, Briann January and Jasmine Thomas) due to overseas commitments. The Sun extended 10 training camp invites and brought in three 2021 draft picks, so the group has skewed younger and inexperienced.

“On the sidelines, she’s always saying something to bigs, guards,” said Stephanie Jones, a training camp invite. “She knows what should be happening in practice on the floor, whether our energy needs to pick up, whether it’s defensive principles, timing on offense, anything really.”

DiJonai Carrington, the Sun’s No. 20 overall pick out of Baylor, has looked forward to working with Thomas since being drafted. Thomas has taken Carrington under her wing, which makes sense given their similar physical styles of play.

“Even though [Thomas is] not playing this year, you wouldn’t know it based off of how much she still communicates with us,” Carrington said. “When I do something wrong, I look at her because I know she’s going to tell me what I should have done or help me correct it. She’s been super helpful to me personally.”

“My pace, that’s been the biggest thing. If she can see the wheels are turning, she’ll just tell me, ‘Slow down, take a deep breath when you catch the ball, wait for your screens, wait for this, wait for that.’”

The Sun returners appreciate the emergence of “Coach” Thomas, too. Natisha Hiedeman, who’s serving as the team’s primary point guard in camp with January and Jasmine Thomas absent, said Alyssa is always in her ear, providing feedback and encouragement, and that her “IQ is crazy.”

Even Bonner, who has been in a ton of training camps and is entering her 11th season, has never participated in one with so many fresh, young faces. Having Thomas as another leader out there makes her job easier.

“She’s been very vocal. She’s at every practice with us, from start to finish,” Bonner said. “She’s helped me out a lot because this is new to me.”

It won’t be the season Thomas envisioned for herself, but even once the regular season begins, she’ll continue to be looked upon to lead the team in her own way as the Sun seeks to build upon its WNBA Finals and semifinals playoff appearances the last two seasons.

And that goal for a title hasn’t gone away, even if they have to do it without their “engine” on the court.

“I feel like it’s the same starting point every year for us. Every year somebody’s missing and we have to prove again why we are one of the top teams,” Thomas said. “I expect them to count us out this year again, but we’re ready. We play with a chip on our shoulder. It’s going to be fun to watch.”

Alexa Philippou can be reached at aphilippou@courant.com