Diana Taurasi’s 31-points against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday further shows the extensive longevity of the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!By scoring 31-points, Taurasi became the oldest player in WNBA and NBA history to score 30-plus points in a game.
y’all realize what you’re witnessing? greatness right before your eyes. pic.twitter.com/5639sbVNwI
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) June 3, 2024
Accolades like this are nothing new to Taurasi. For a former WNBA champion and MVP who has been at Mount Rushmore status for the better part of her career, feats like this certainly don’t phase Taurasi at this point. But the opportunity to do it for the Mercury — the team that Taurasi has been with for 20-years — is what makes moments like these special.
“Loyalty is number one,” said Taurasi. “That’s how I treat this team, this city, and every time I put this jersey on, that’s the feeling I get.”
Taurasi credits her loyalty to her Latino culture, and Phoenix happened to celebrate Dia Latina night on Sunday. Taurasi grew up in a Latino household, so tonight was fitting for a big time performance.
© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
“Obviously I’m an American, but I lived in an Argentinian household,” said Taurasi. “Sometimes I would leave the house and I thought I was in a foreign country…We grew up in a strong Argentinian household. The language, the music, the food, sprinkled with some Italian from my dad. So a night like this where we’re honoring what makes this city and this country in a lot of ways what it is — it’s pretty special. And to have a big night paired with that, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
Taurasi’s longevity stems from her preparation. She’s stayed ready for the moment and ready to attack throughout her entire career, and Sunday was no different. Taurasi’s 31-points helped lead Phoenix to a win, after losing four straight games prior to that.
“Someone told me that she was the oldest player to score more than 30 in the [WNBA] or [NBA], in the history of both leagues,” said Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts. “It’s just impressive to watch. It’s fun to watch, she’s so competitive…For her to be ready to play and set the tone for us was huge.”
There have been eight 30-point games in WNBA history by a player age-38 or older.
Seven of those eight games have been by Diana Taurasi. pic.twitter.com/NyuQ4Kvg3L
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) June 3, 2024
At this point in her career, Taurasi continues to stockpile little feats and achievements. In the WNBA’s history, there have been just eight 30-point games from players that are 38-years-old or older. Seven of those games are from Taurasi.
WATCH: Diana Taurasi praises LA Sparks forward Dearica Hamby
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
