There are WNBA greats, there are WNBA legends, but there is only one Diana Taurasi.
As much as it hurts, it came as no surprise when Taurasi announced her retirement from the WNBA on February 25. The league's all-time leading scorer and 6-time Olympic gold medalist hinted at retirement throughout the 2024 season, and made things official in an interview with Time.
Taurasi, who was drafted by the Mercury as the No. 1 overall pick in 2004 and played all 20 of her seasons with the team, told the outlet, "Mentally and physically, I’m just full. That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy."
To say Taurasi leaves behind a trail of accolades is an understatement. In her 20 years she racked up 10,646 points in the regular season and led the league in 3-pointers. She won the championship in 2007, 2009, and 2014. She knocked back 6 Euroleague titles in Russia and Turkey, and most impressively, earned 6 gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Taurasi is the GOAT of women's basketball
There's no question that Taurasi, long-rumored to be the silhouette featured in the WNBA's logo, is the greatest to ever play the women's game. Geno Auriemma, who coached her at UConn, agrees. "Until someone comes along and eclipses what she’s done, then yes, she is," he told Time.
And though that someone might come around, it will take time to ascend to the heights she's known.
"My scoring record, or the six gold medals, someone’s going to come around that has the same hunger, the same addiction to basketball, and put those records in a different way, a different name," Taurasi also said. "That’s what sports is all about. That’s going to be fun to watch. Hopefully not soon"
Taurasi's contribution to the WNBA in undeniable
There is no way to deny that Diana Taurasi's impact on the WNBA has been anything but legendary. In a lot of ways, she is the WNBA; it will be both joyous and sorrowful to watch the league move on without her. It's difficult to imagine a season without Taurasi's sharp glare across the court or her commentary in postgame press conferences; in a lot of ways, even though it was inevitable and the writing was on the wall, it feels like it's not quite time for her to go.
"It’s just the full package," Sue Bird told the outlet. "You add on some swag to that, some sh-t talking to that–the more you piss her off, the better she plays, people are entertained by that."
You can read Taurasi's full interview at Time.