A Look Back At This WNBA Player's Career Admist Retirement Rumors
Fans may be witnessing the last of Diana Taurasi smiling after receiving a technical foul.
Although there is no confirmation on whether or not Taurasi is retiring this year, the Phoenix Mercury social media team has been promoting a “last dance” type of campaign regarding the 42-year-old vet—although they are saying, “If this is it.”
“If it’s the last time, it felt like the first time. I love you guys,” Taurasi said to fans during the final Mercury home game.
College Career
Taurasi entered the collegiate scene in 2000 with the University of Connecticut. She stayed for four years and averaged 15 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 4.5 assists per game throughout her career. With her on the team, the Huskies went 139-8.
Taurasi’s only collegiate NCAA tournament loss came in her first year, in which she shot 1-15 from the field for four points. After that Final Four loss, Taurasi vowed, “We will not lose another tournament game while I’m wearing this uniform.” She went on to help her team to 18 straight tournament wins and three consecutive NCAA Championships.
Taurasi remained highly decorated in college, receiving the following awards: 2003 and 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year awards; the 2003 Wade Trophy; the 2003 and 2004 Honda Sports Award; the 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year; 2003 and 2004 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player; 2003 and 2004 All-Final Four; 2001, 2003, and 2004 NCAA Regional MOP; and four-time NCAA All-Regional during her four years at UConn.
In 2006, Taurasi was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to UConn’s women’s basketball “Huskies of Honor” recognition program. Taurasi was the first pick in the 2004 Women’s National Basketball Association draft to the Mercury.
Professional Career
This year will make Taurasi’s twentieth year in the WNBA. She has played her entire professional WNBA career with the Mercury. She has also played overseas in Moscow (2005-2010), Turkey (2010-2012), and again in Russia (20212-2017).
Taurasi has played 565 WNBA games in her career (as of Sept. 20). On 30.7 career minutes per game, she has a career 18.8 PPG, 3.9 RBG, 4.2 APG, 0.9 steals per game, 0.6 blocks per game, 2.7 turnovers per game on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from three.
In Taurasi’s rookie year (2004), she won Rookie of the Year, 2004 All-WNBA First Team. She led the Mercury in scoring with 17 PPG her rookie year as well. She was the first player in WNBA history to start their career with three consecutive 20+ point games. She went on to score 20+ points on 13 occasions.
Taurasi also boasts the following awards: 2009 Finals Most Valuable Player, 2009 MVP, Top 15 Players in the WNBA at 15 Years (2011), 2014 Finals MVP, and 2018 Community Assist Award. She is an 11-time All-Star. She has been player of the week 21 times and player of the month four times in her 20-year career. She has been all WNBA 14 times. She has three Championships with the Mercury (2007, 2009, and 2014).
Taurasi is also known for getting technicals as much as she is known for her prowess on the court. She has been suspended twice (in 2018 and 2016) for reaching the seven technical fouls allowed in the WNBA. In 2013, she had to sit two games because she received nine technicals in one season.
Team USA Basketball
Taurasi also holds the record for most Olympic titles in USA basketball history. Taurasi started her Olympic career in 2004 in Athens. She then participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio Olympics, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and 2024 Paris Olympics. She has won gold six consecutive times.
Taurasi is also a 2010, 2014, and 2018 FIBA World Cup basketball champion. She has a 2006 bronze medal in the 2006 FIBA World Cup. In 2001, Taurasi won a Junior World Championship (U19). She is also the 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. Taurasi has the most wins and games played at the Olympic Games, having won all the 44 games she has been a part of.
What’s Next?
The Mercury are the seventh seed for the playoffs and will start the first-round series against the Minnesota Lynx on Sept. 22 in Minneapolis.
Taurasi in her post-game conference on Sept. 19:
“I got to the locker room and I was talking to BG (teammate Brittney Griner) and I'm like, 'There are still days that I could still do this. I still want to play basketball. Then there's the flip side where there are days I'm crawling out of bed. That's the struggle you have when you get to this point in your career. You have to do so much to be able to get back on the court. It's bittersweet in a lot of ways. Once the season is over I'll have a better idea of what it looks like for me in the future.”
Taurasi also has the 'Bird and Taurasi Show' with former UConn teammate Sue Bird, which means her retirement won't put her out of the basketball world completely.
Whether or not this is Taurasi’s last dance as a WNBA player, there is no doubt she has left a lasting impression on the court—both for her skills and for moments like this kiss between her opponent Simeone Augustus during a fight:
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our YouTube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok a follow for more great content!
コメント