Diana Taurasi, who’s playing in her twentieth WNBA season, didn’t officially announce her retirement on Thursday night after the Phoenix Mercury's final game of the season against the Seattle Storm. But the Mercury icon hinted in her speech to the house crowd that her end may very well be imminent.
“If it's the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said as the group chanted “one more year.”
“I love you guys.”
Taurasi played 18 minutes on Thursday because the Mercury lost 89-70 to the Storm. She scored nine points, added one rebound and two assists. With 3:11 left within the fourth quarter, fans on the Footprint Center stood up and called for Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts to bring Taurasi back into the sport. The first-year coach complied. Taurasi returned to the sport, blew a kiss and clapped for the group, who showered her with cheers.
It was a 10-second curtain call for Mercury fans to point out their appreciation for a historic player in what may very well be her final home game. As Taurasi left the sphere, fans chanted, “One more year.”
Diana Taurasi is back and the group is having fun with every second of it 🥹
— WNBA (@WNBA) 20 September 2024
When the match ended, the lights within the seating areas dimmed while Taurasi stood within the highlight at center court. Before she addressed the group, a tribute video for Taurasi played on the screen above. It was the identical video that the Mercury social media account posted on X on Thursday afternoon, hinting at a possible announcement of her retirement.
Taurasi thanked town of Phoenix, a spot she called “home,” and praised her teammates and coaches, in addition to the fans who supported her profession.
Dear Dee –
Love,
We all pic.twitter.com/SnO1q10Fdp— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) 19 September 2024
“I want to thank every single coach, every single player, every single person that has put on a WNBA jersey because it takes a whole village,” Taurasi said. “For everyone who played before this league that is now where it is – we are grateful for you and we are grateful for the next generation.”
Several high-profile athletes and coaches attended what could also be Taurasi's final game, including four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird, world champion and Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, UConn coach Geno Auriemma, UConn coach Chris Dailey, Phoenix Suns shooting guard Damion Lee, small forward Josh Okogie and Taurasi's parents Mario and Lilliana.
If Taurasi's WNBA profession were to finish on Thursday, she would depart the game with a jam-packed resume. She has won three championships, is the league's all-time leading scorer, won six gold medals with Team USA and appeared within the WNBA All-Star Game 11 times. Her records include being the primary WNBA player to attain 10,000 profession points, being the oldest player within the NBA or WNBA to attain 40 points in a game and her total points (10,646 points).
The Mercury made the playoffs after missing the playoffs last 12 months for the primary time in a decade, but Thursday night was about Taurasi, her likely departure and a probability for the Phoenix crowd to have a good time considered one of the franchise's most completed players.
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