Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi recently announced her retirement. Taurasi's announcement led to reaction from the entire WNBA world. Former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo shared an intriguing Taurasi take following the announcement, via espnW.
"When you look at the totality of her career with the college championships, WNBA championships, the Olympic gold medal, she is certainly the greatest woman we have seen play the game, at least in the WNBA era," Lobo said.
Lobo believes Taurasi is indeed the greatest women's basketball player ever, at least in the WNBA era (since 1997). There were plenty of college women's basketball stars before the WNBA era, and perhaps they would have received more attention in the league. Still, Taurasi is arguably the best to ever play in the WNBA.
Diana Taurasi's legendary career in the WNBA
Taurasi, 42, is a three-time WNBA champion and two-time WNBA Finals MVP. She also earned 11 All-Star selections during her truly legendary career.
Taurasi was consistent throughout her time in the league, leading the WNBA in scoring on five separate occasions. Opponents in the league simply had a difficult time trying to contain her greatness. Taurasi found ways to find success while playing in Phoenix with the Mercury.
In college, Taurasi also earned three NCAA championships. She was simply a winning player during her time playing the game of basketball. Even when her teams didn't win championships, they were often competitive.
What's next for Taurasi?
It will be interesting to see what Taurasi's next move is. She may decide to take some time away from the game and enjoy retirement. However, Taurasi could easily land a head coaching job in the WNBA if that is something she is interested in pursuing. Or, the former Mercury star could get into broadcasting.
Regardless of what Taurasi's next move is, there is no denying her greatness on the basketball floor. She helped to change the game while giving it a boost from a popularity standpoint. Taurasi almost played in the WNBA for its entire existence, as she made her debut during the 2004 campaign.
The league would not be where it is now without Diana Taurasi. With stars such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese now in the WNBA, the league's future remains bright. Taurasi's legacy will never be forgotten, though.
Is she the greatest player of all-time? There are different opinions, but Taurasi certainly has a strong case.