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 attainable retirement. Now that it is official, what a heck of a experience it has been for Taurasi.
Her last sport was within the first spherical of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs towards the Minnesota Lynx, the place she obtained a standing ovation after fouling out. Whereas it remained unsure whether or not this was really Taurasi’s final sport, solely she knew what the longer term held.
Drafted No. 1 general 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 embellished athletes ever.
Nicknamed “White Mamba” by Kobe Bryant, Taurasi grew to become probably the most fearless and one of many best ever to grace the hardwood. A real pioneer in ladies’s basketball, Taurasi paved the best way for a number of ladies within the sport.
“Diana Taurasi is likely one of the best opponents to ever play the sport of basketball on any stage,” stated WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a PR assertion. “She leaves a long-lasting legacy, and the way forward for the WNBA is in a fantastic place due to her affect that can 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).
Information are supposed to be damaged, though Taurasi’s might not be 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 can be her fifteenth WNBA season. Whereas Charles and DeWanna Bonner are the one two energetic gamers among the many prime 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 dependancy to basketball, and put these information another way, a special title,” Taurasi advised 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 likely one of the Biggest of All Time in WNBA Historical past
Often known 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 towards 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 group, 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 advised Instances Sean Gregory this New 12 months’s Day “hit totally 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 advised Gregory. “That’s most likely one of the simplest ways I can describe it. I’m full, and I’m comfortable.”
Diana Taurasi’s illustrious WNBA profession: A legacy of greatness
Leaving the sport a greater place than she discovered it, Taurasi leaves a Mercury group that newly constructed it is whole roster. Wanting in direction of the longer term, the retirement information got here the identical day Phoenix launched newly acquired star Alyssa Thomas.
Below proprietor Matt Ishbia, the Mercury lately unveiled their $100 million apply facility throughout All-Star Weekend in July. The state-of-the-art apply facility contains two courts that that show Taurasi’s emblem and title on them.
It is the primary time Mercury followers will see a roster with out Taurasi or Brittney Griner since 2013, and the torch can 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 reminiscent of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese spotlight the league, the WNBA is full of a ton of expertise. Since Taurasi was drafted in 2004, the league is poised for important development. Though it wasn’t at all times that method. All through her 20 yr profession, Taurasi witnessed fluctuations of viewership throughout the WNBA.
The WNBA is exploding with a vibrant future forward
Actually, holding their first growth draft since 2008, the WNBA will undertake Golden State, Toronto, Portland, and Cleveland as the subsequent host of cities. With file breaking viewership, the WNBA reached 54 million viewers in 2024, which marks essentially 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 longer term, Taurasi will achieve this maintaining her household on the forefront. Alongside along with her spouse and former teammate Penny Taylor, Taurasi’s focus can be on youngsters Leo, 7, and Isla, 3.
Stating she’s “undoubtedly retired” to Gregory, there isn’t any doubt DT will miss one thing she’s been devoted to her complete life.
“I’m going to overlook the competitors,” Taurasi advised Gregory. “I’ll miss the within jokes. I’ll miss the locker room, the issues that include being on a basketball group. All these issues, I will deeply miss.”
Whereas the subsequent era will step in, your entire basketball world will miss ceaselessly miss the most effective to ever play the sport. Actually, Diana Taurasi’s longevity and iconic spirit can be ceaselessly unmatched.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator, and Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a deal with the Ladies’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane presently resides within the Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma in Economics from the College of Connecticut.
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