One of the most decorated basketball players of all time, Diana Taurasi, has announced her retirement from the WNBA following a storied career that spanned two decades.
The league’s all time leading scorer steps away from the game with an unparalleled 6 Olympic gold medals, 3 WNBA titles, 2 WNBA Finals MVP awards, 11 All-Star selections, 14 All-WNBA selections (10x 1st Team, 4x 2nd Team), a WNBA rookie of the year award, 3 NCAA championships, and 5 scoring titles amongst a slew of other accolades.
And that’s just what she did in North America. Overseas Taurasi was a 6 time EuroLeague champion, 7x Russian National League champion, a Turkish National League & Turkish Cup winner, and more.
Simply put, wherever Diana Taurasi played, be it at the amateur, collegiate, or professional level, she dominated. However, at age 42, the effects of Father Time finally caught up to “the G.O.A.T”, prompting her to step back from the game she’d given so much to.
“Mentally and physically, I’m just full,” Taurasi told Time magazine. “That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”
In the wake of her announcement, a flood of tributes and well wishes poured in from across a wide range of sports. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert called Taurasi “one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage.”
“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,” Engelbert said in a prepared statement. “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.”
The former UConn standout was a fixture in the Phoenix organization for 20 years, suiting up for 565 regular season, and 73 playoff games for the Mercury from 2004-2024.
“She revolutionized the game with her scoring ability, infectious personality and the edge she brought to the court every night,” Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein said. “There will only ever be one Diana Taurasi, and she will continue to inspire us for years to come and remain part of the fabric of this city.”
Former coach Geno Auriemma was quick to offer his congratulations to the legend, stating that she “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,” Auriemma said. “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.”
Former rival Becky Hammon compared Taurasi to LeBron James, while Kevin Durant told AZCentral reporter Duane Rankin “It’s surprising. Still thought she could play. It’s a testament to her hard work and her talent level. Always been a big fan of DT’s. I know the next chapter of her life will be as successful and impactful as her last 20 years.”
Such was the admiration and respect from her peers, rivals and athletes across a wide range of fields that Taurasi will have no problem transitioning to the next phase of her career in whatever role she wants. Commentary, a front office position, coaching, corporate speaking gigs, whatever path she chooses there will be no shortage of suitors lining up to offer her contracts.
The Mercury will undoubtedly host a ceremony of some sort for Taurasi throughout the season, while television show “The View” has already announced that the WNBA legend will be their guest on tomorrow’s episode.
While she might be stepping away from the hardwood, fans can take solace in knowing that a competitor like Taurasi won’t be able to stay away from the game for long. It just might take some getting used to in order to adjust to seeing her on the sidelines, and not leading a fast break.
Photo: John Mac. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.