Phoenix Mercury guard and UConn graduate Diana Taurasi has officially announced her retirement, as she shared in Time Journal on Tuesday.
As entering the league in 2004, it was clear that the California native would become a meaningful figure. The first overall pick brought her exceptional skills and remarkable flair to the desert. Taurasi earned rookie of the Year honors and guided the Mercury to their inaugural WNBA championship just three years later. She would go on to secure two additional titles (2009, 2014) and be named Finals MVP in both series.
Around two decades later, Arizona became home for her. Taurasi and her former teammate Penny Taylor, are raising their two young children there. This might potentially be where Taurasi embarks on her new chapter of life post-retirement,though what that entails remains uncertain.
This is not an exhaustive list but highlights some of Taurasi’s most notable career milestones by the numbers:
Sports$1.5 million
The amount Diana Taurasi was reportedly compensated by her Russian Club for missing the 2015 WNBA season.
Sports10,646
The total number of points scored by Taurasi throughout her WNBA career.
Sports1,486
Taurasi’s total points scored during playoff games.
Sports20
The number of seasons played by Taurasi in the WNBA; she spent every moment of those twenty years with Phoenix Mercury.
Spo rts14
Taur asi has been selected for 14 All-Star Games within the WNBA , including participation in t he upcoming All-Star Weekend set to take place in Phoenix , where she will join Team USA Olympic Team against Team W NBA All-Stars .
Sports6
Taur asi is recognized as t he only Olympian who represented t he united States at six Summer Olympics , which is t he highest count among USA Basketball athletes.She shares t his record with Sue Bird , having both achieved five Olympic medals.
Sports3
Taur asi secured three championships while playing for Phoenix.
Spo rts ２
Tau r asi was honored as a two-time AP All-American (three times if including second-team recognition) during h er time at UConn.
Spo rts<s trong＞１＜／s trong＞＜／h２ ＞＜ｐ＞The number o f doors T au r asi allegedly punched following losing th e2019WNBAchampionshipto th e<a c lass= " Annotation-link "href= " https :// www .cb ss ports .com/w na/t eams/ch i/chicago-sky/" ＞Chicago Sky ＜／ a ＞。Jokes aside，this also represents th e count o fWNBA MVP Awards T au r asi has received.< ／ｐ＞
