Diana Taurasi, playing in her 20th WNBA season, did not officially announce her retirement on Thursday night following the Phoenix Mercury’s regular season finale against the Seattle Storm. However, the Mercury legend hinted that the end may be near as she spoke to the home crowd.
“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said as the crowd chanted, “one more year.”
“I love you guys.”
Taurasi played 18 minutes on Thursday as the Mercury fell to the Storm 89-70. She scored nine points and recorded one rebound and two assists. With 3:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, fans at the Footprint Center stood up, encouraging Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts to put Taurasi back in the game. The coach complied, and Taurasi reentered the game, blowing a kiss and clapping for the crowd who cheered for her.
It was a brief moment for the Mercury fans to show their gratitude for a historic player in what could be her final home game. As Taurasi left the court, fans chanted, “One more year.”
Diana Taurasi checks back in and the crowd is lovin’ every second of it 🥹
SEA-PHX | League Pass 📱 pic.twitter.com/MIaFPkvB0g
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2024
When the game ended, the lights dimmed in the seating areas as the spotlight focused on Taurasi at center court. Before addressing the crowd, a tribute video for Taurasi played on the screen. It was the same video that the Mercury social media account shared earlier, hinting at a possible retirement announcement.
Taurasi expressed her gratitude towards the city of Phoenix, a place she considers “home.” She commended her teammates, coaches, and the fans who have supported her throughout her career.
Dear Dee –
Love,
All of Us pic.twitter.com/SnO1q10Fdp— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 19, 2024
“I want to thank every single coach, every single player, every single person that’s put on a WNBA jersey because it takes the village,” Taurasi said. “For everyone who played before this league is where it is now — we’re thankful for you guys and we’re thankful for the next generation.”
Several prominent athletes and coaches attended Taurasi’s potentially final game, including Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Geno Auriemma, Chris Dailey, Damion Lee, Josh Okogie, and Taurasi’s parents Mario and Lilliana.
If Thursday marked the end of Taurasi’s WNBA career, she would leave behind an impressive resume. With three championships, being the league’s all-time leading scorer, earning six gold medals with Team USA, and making 11 WNBA All-Star Game appearances. Her milestones include being the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 career points, the oldest player in NBA or WNBA history to score 40 points in a game, and her overall point total of 10,646 points.
For the Mercury, they made it to the playoffs after missing out last year for the first time in ten years. However, Thursday night belonged to Taurasi, her potential farewell, and an opportunity for Phoenix fans to celebrate one of the franchise’s most accomplished players.
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(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)