It is official: Diana Taurasi formally introduced her WNBA retirement.
Taurasi toyed with the concept of retirement all season lengthy, leaving followers with an “if this was it” slogan that hinted at a doable retirement. Now that it is official, what a heck of a journey it has been for Taurasi.
Her last recreation was within the first spherical of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx, the place she obtained a standing ovation after fouling out. Whereas it remained unsure whether or not this was actually Taurasi’s final recreation, solely she knew what the long run held.
Drafted No. 1 total within the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, Taurasi was a confirmed winner even earlier than getting into the league. A 3x Nationwide Champion underneath Geno Auriemma and the Connecticut Huskies, Taurasi is likely one of the most adorned athletes ever.
Nicknamed “White Mamba” by Kobe Bryant, Taurasi turned some of the fearless and one of many best ever to grace the hardwood. A real pioneer in girls’s basketball, Taurasi paved the way in which for a number of girls within the sport.
“Diana Taurasi is likely one of the best rivals to ever play the sport of basketball on any stage,” mentioned WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a PR assertion. “She leaves an enduring legacy, and the way forward for the WNBA is in an amazing place due to her impression that will likely be felt for generations to come back.”
Diana Taurasi spent All 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury
Taurasi leaves behind a franchise with which she performed 20 seasons. In August 2023, she secured 10,000 profession factors, making her the WNBA’s all-time main scorer with 10,646. The previous Husky is fourth in all-time assists with 2,394 and leads the WNBA in three-pointers made (3,014).
Data are supposed to be damaged, though Taurasi’s is probably not for a while. In 565 profession video games performed, Taurasi leads former UConn Husky Tina Charles for the all-time scoring file by 2,950 factors. Charles, 36, lately returned to the Connecticut Solar in what will likely be her fifteenth WNBA season. Whereas Charles and DeWanna Bonner are the one two energetic gamers among the many high 5 in scoring, Taurasi understands information are supposed to be damaged.
“My scoring file, or the six gold medals, somebody’s going to come back round that has the identical starvation, the identical habit to basketball, and put these information another way, a unique identify,” Taurasi informed Time’s Sean Gregory. “That’s what sports activities is all about. That’s going to be enjoyable to observe. Hopefully not quickly.”
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Diana Taurasi Is among the Best of All Time in WNBA Historical past
Referred to as the “Goat,” Taurasi leaves the sport as a 3x WNBA Champion, all with the Phoenix Mercury. Capturing titles in 2007, 2009, and 2014, Taurasi was named Finals MVP in opposition to the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky.
Eligible for the Basketball Corridor of Fame Class of 2027, Taurasi is moreover a 6x Olympic Gold Medalist, 11x WNBA All-Star, 2009 WNBA MVP, and 4x USA Basketball feminine athlete of the yr. Named to the WNBA fifteenth and twentieth Anniversary crew, Taurasi spent a number of years enjoying abroad within the offseason. A 6x Euroleague Champion, Taurasi completed her profession as a 7x Russian Nationwide League Champion.
So, what was the reasoning for Diana Taurasi’s retirement? She informed Instances Sean Gregory this New 12 months’s Day “hit completely different.” Admitting Taurasi did not have it in her, “that was just about once I I knew it was time to stroll away.”
“Mentally and bodily, I’m simply full,” Taurasi informed Gregory. “That’s in all probability the easiest way I can describe it. I’m full, and I’m completely satisfied.”
Diana Taurasi’s illustrious WNBA profession: A legacy of greatness
Leaving the sport a greater place than she discovered it, Taurasi leaves a Mercury crew that newly constructed it is complete roster. Wanting in the direction of the long run, the retirement information got here the identical day Phoenix launched newly acquired star Alyssa Thomas.
Underneath proprietor Matt Ishbia, the Mercury lately unveiled their $100 million observe facility throughout All-Star Weekend in July. The cutting-edge observe facility contains two courts that that show Taurasi’s emblem and identify on them.
It is the primary time Mercury followers will see a roster with out Taurasi or Brittney Griner since 2013, and the torch will likely be handed on to Satou Sabally, Kahleah Copper, and Thomas.
Since Taurasi entered the league, the WNBA attendance and viewership has soared to new heights. Whereas younger stars resembling Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese spotlight the league, the WNBA is crammed with a ton of expertise. Since Taurasi was drafted in 2004, the league is poised for vital progress. Though it wasn’t at all times that means. All through her 20 yr profession, Taurasi witnessed fluctuations of viewership throughout the WNBA.
The WNBA is exploding with a vivid future forward
The truth is, holding their first growth draft since 2008, the WNBA will undertake Golden State, Toronto, Portland, and Cleveland as the following host of cities. With file breaking viewership, the WNBA reached 54 million viewers in 2024, which marks probably the most in over 24 years.
Heading into 2025 , Diana Taurasi leaves a league that is exploding by the yr. With a brand new Collective Bargaining Settlement set to happen subsequent yr, the league has seen a number of developments. Simply to call just a few, that features constitution flights, expanded video games, new playoff codecs, extra groups, elevated roster spots, and participant sponsorships.
With Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins poised to be the league’s future stars, Taurasi, together with a number of previous athletes, helped form its present path. Now set to look into the long run, Taurasi will accomplish that holding her household on the forefront. Alongside together with her spouse and former teammate Penny Taylor, Taurasi’s focus will likely be on kids Leo, 7, and Isla, 3.
Stating she’s “undoubtedly retired” to Gregory, there is not any doubt DT will miss one thing she’s been devoted to her entire life.
“I’m going to overlook the competitors,” Taurasi informed Gregory. “I will miss the within jokes. I will miss the locker room, the issues that include being on a basketball crew. All these issues, I will deeply miss.”
Whereas the following technology will step in, the whole basketball world will miss eternally miss one of the best to ever play the sport. Really, Diana Taurasi’s longevity and iconic spirit will likely be eternally unmatched.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator, and Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a concentrate on the Ladies’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane presently resides within the Connecticut/NYC space together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma in Economics from the College of Connecticut.
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