Diana Taurasi Announces Retirement After 20 Iconic Years in the WNBA

As I stand here, after two glorious decades, I’m officially hanging up my sneakers in the WNBA. My journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, spent entirely with the incredible Phoenix Mercury. As I step away from the game, I do so with pride, knowing I’ve etched my name among the greatest players in professional basketball history.

Over the span of her illustrious career, she claimed three WNBA titles and became the league’s top scorer with an astonishing total of 10,646 points. To this day, no player has come close to matching her offensive prowess in the current league. She was the first pick for the Mercury team and was awarded the Rookie of the Year title in 2004. Throughout her career, she made 11 appearances as an All-Star, won two WNBA Finals MVP awards, earned a place on the All-WNBA First Team ten times, and was part of six Olympic Gold Medal-winning teams. Prior to joining the WNBA, Taurasi had already amassed three NCAA Championships and twice received the Naismith College Player of the Year award. With an impressive 20 seasons in the WNBA, Taurasi has set a remarkable standard for women’s professional basketball, leaving behind an unforgettable journey that has captivated many and elevated the sport to new heights.

LeBron James paid tribute to Diana Taurasi, expressing his admiration for her impact on basketball and style of play to Time magazine: “Witnessing her elevate the game, seeing young girls aspire to emulate her, her unique approach, her panache, her confidence – it’s been a truly amazing experience. She’s one of the all-time greats, and as soon as she steps onto the court and laces up her shoes, she’ll leave an indelible mark on basketball. It’s been a privilege. My respect goes out to her.” Similarly, fellow WNBA legend Sue Bird stated during the same interview: “Diana is the one who had street credibility. Wherever you travel – airports, different cities – people recognized Diana everywhere.

In 2024, Taurasi took over as the WNBA’s senior-most active player. Her enduring presence remains a significant topic in discussions that highlight her exceptional status among the game’s all-time greats. Upon her retirement, Taurasi explained to Time magazine why it was an opportune time to step away from basketball. She confided to the publication that she had felt it was time to depart the sport on New Year’s Day, “I sensed it was time to bid farewell. Mentally and physically, I feel drained. That might be the best way I can articulate it. I’m satiated and content.

After spending two decades playing in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi is now officially hanging up her jersey ❤️

Thank you, Diana, for revolutionizing basketball forever. No amount of awards could ever express the impact and spirit you brought to the court every time you played.

One-of-a-kind 💐

— WNBA (@WNBA) February 25, 2025

Instead of merely donning the uniform, she constructed our team’s legacy.

Not only did she play the sport, but she revolutionized it completely.

And while I can’t thank you enough, at least this shows my gratitude 💙

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) February 25, 2025

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2025-02-26 06:26