Diana Taurasi: A Legendary Career Comes to a Close
All good things must come to an end, and for basketball fans, this sentiment rings especially true as Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s leading scorer, has announced her retirement. The news broke on Tuesday when Taurasi shared her decision with Time magazine, marking the end of an era for the Phoenix Mercury and the league as a whole.
Taurasi’s departure from the court comes after an extraordinary 20-season career, all spent with the Phoenix Mercury. Her time in the WNBA has been nothing short of trailblazing, as she amassed a staggering 10,646 points, making her the league’s all-time leader in points through 565 regular season games. Notably, she is the only player in WNBA history to surpass the 10,000-point mark. In addition to her regular season achievements, Taurasi scored another 1,476 points in 72 playoff appearances.
Her list of accolades is extensive, including a league MVP award in 2009, 14 All-WNBA selections, and five WNBA scoring titles. Taurasi’s impact on the court was instrumental in helping the Mercury secure three championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014, with her earning Finals MVP honors in 2009 and 2014.
Beyond the WNBA, Taurasi’s international career is equally impressive. In August, she won her sixth Olympic gold medal with Team USA, becoming the first basketball player to achieve this remarkable feat. Her contributions to the sport have not gone unnoticed, as she was voted the WNBA “GOAT” by fans in 2021, a testament to her milestones, championships, and the numbers that back up her legendary status.
Franchise Bids Farewell
The Phoenix Mercury, the team that Taurasi has called home since being drafted as the No. 1 pick in the 2004 WNBA draft, expressed their gratitude and admiration for her contributions. In her rookie season, Taurasi averaged 17 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, earning her the Rookie of the Year title.
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She didn’t just wear the jersey – she built our franchise. She played the game, then changed it forever. Thank you will never be enough. But it’s a start 💜 pic.twitter.com/X34bgGBWqv
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perioDT. pic.twitter.com/cQOdpkTQya
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Some players build a legacy with multiple franchises. Goats cement theirs with one. pic.twitter.com/ICQzUg05Dk
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The greatest to ever do it. pic.twitter.com/7Ba42NIp2Z
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Mercury forever 🧡 pic.twitter.com/m62aNWMR5S
Sports World Gives Taurasi Her Flowers
Taurasi’s prolific time in the WNBA followed an outstanding college career with the UConn Huskies, where she won three consecutive national titles from 2002 to 2004. She finished with a 22-1 record in the NCAA tournament during her time in Storrs.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma shared his thoughts, saying, “I have never, ever heard her say a negative word about a teammate, at UConn, the Olympic team, Phoenix. But I could say to her, ‘Dee, that was the worst god-damned pass I’ve ever seen in my life.’ If I said that to someone else, they might say, ‘Why are you disrespecting me?’ With her, she never took it personally. She already knew it was a bad pass and she needed to make it better. She wanted to be coached like that.”
Taurasi’s UConn and Olympic teammate Sue Bird added, “She has a way of making people feel connected to her, but also like the best version of themselves.”
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After 20 years of playing in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi is officially retiring 🧡 Thank you Diana for changing the game forever, all of the accolades could never amount to the type of person and edge you embodied when you stepped out there on the court. One-of-One 💐 pic.twitter.com/dEtE4NDrGH
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An American basketball icon. Thank you, Diana. pic.twitter.com/BzFsyvJwIN
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The Greatest of All-Time. Thank you, Dee, for everything you did for The Valley and the game of basketball 💜🧡 pic.twitter.com/ZSBT407g0O
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One of the greatest to ever do it. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter, @DianaTaurasi 💜 https://t.co/WCSAMufJs5
As Taurasi steps away from the game, the basketball world pauses to reflect on her incredible career and the indelible mark she has left on the sport. Her legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of players, and her contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come.
Originally Written by: ESPN staff
