PHOENIX- On Tuesday, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi announced her retirement through an exclusive interview with TIME after playing for two decades in the WNBA. Her retirement announcement was trending in the Top 2 on X, previously known as Twitter, late in the day.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Current and former players across the league express their appreciation for Taurasi’s impact on women’s basketball and share their moments spent together on the court.
Throughout her illustrious career, Diana Taurasi became the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA. She led the Phoenix Mercury to three championships and made history as the first player in Team USA’s history to win six Olympic gold medals, achieving this milestone in Paris last summer.
Taurasi finished her career with a total of 10,646 points scored, 1,447 three-pointers made, and 122 technical fouls— all of which are records in WNBA history. Her longevity in the sport only adds to her legendary status.
“Diana’s impact on our organization and league, the championships, and her countless accolades speak for themselves, but what will always stand out to me is her unmatched work ethic, dedication to her craft and passion for the game,” Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren said in a press release. “She put in countless hours while no one was watching and she never took any shortcuts. I have tremendous respect and admiration for her – as a fan, as a colleague and as a friend. I am incredibly grateful for the friendship we have built over the years.”
Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to score 10,000 points in a single game, achieving this remarkable feat when she scored 42 points during the Mercury’s home victory over the Atlanta Dream in August 2023.
“Diana Taurasi is one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “In a record-setting career that saw her play 20 seasons, score more points and make more three-point shots than any player in WNBA history, she has earned the unquestioned respect of players around the globe, delivered electrifying moments and captivated fans again and again.
“On behalf of the WNBA family, I thank Diana for everything that she has brought to the WNBA – her passion, her charisma and, most of all, her relentless dedication to the game. She leaves a lasting legacy and the future of the WNBA is in a great position because of her impact, that will be felt for generations to come.”
Congrats @DianaTaurasi on an amazing 20-year career in the WNBA! Diana is the ultimate leader and teammate, and her impact on our franchise, community, and the game of basketball has been incredible. Her name will forever be synonymous with the @PhoenixMercury and we're so… pic.twitter.com/1s9NoWbSAt
— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) February 25, 2025
Geno Auriemma was Diana Taurasi’s coach during her time at UConn and with Team USA. He attended Taurasi’s final home game in Phoenix last September. Together, they won three consecutive national titles and two Olympic gold medals.
“It’s hard to put into words, it really is, what this means,” Auriemma said. “When someone’s defined the game, when someone’s had such an impact on so many people and so many places. You can’t define it with a quote. It’s a life that is a novel, it’s a movie, it’s a miniseries, it’s a saga. It’s the life of an extraordinary person who, I think, had as much to do with changing women’s basketball as anyone who’s ever played the game.
“In my opinion, what the greats have in common is, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport. For as long as people talk about college basketball, WNBA basketball, Olympic basketball: Diana is the greatest winner in the history of basketball, period. I’ve had the pleasure of being around her for a lot of those moments, and she’s the greatest teammate I’ve ever coached. I’m happy for her and her family. At the same time, I’m sad that I’ll never get to see her play again, but I saw more than most.”
Taurasi will appear on ABC’s The View on Wednesday morning to discuss about her retirement from the game of women’s basketball.
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Reporter Aya Abdeen covers the Phoenix Mercury, Arizona State Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @ayabdeen, and on Bluesky, @ayabdeen.bsky.social.
