— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) February 26, 2025
Phoenix Mercury Diana Taurasi has officially announce that “she’s retiring from basketball.”
In an article published by Time Magazine;
Taurasi reveals publicly for the first time that she’s retiring from basketball. “Mentally and physically, I’m just full,” says Taurasi, who played all 20 of her WNBA seasons for the Mercury. “That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”
She played for the Phoenix Mercury, who drafted her at first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft and played for the team for 20 years. The late Kobe Bryant gave her the nickname “White Mamba” and she is the leading scorer in WNBA history and voted “greatest of all time” by the WNBA’s fans.
As for accolades, Taurasi is one of 11 women to win an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup, and a WNBA Championship.
Here are her career highlights and awards;
- WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2004)
- 3x WNBA championships (2007, 2009, and 2014)
- 6x Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024)
- WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (2009)
- 2x WNBA Finals MVP Awards (2009 and 2014)
- 5 scoring titles (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011)
- 3x FIBA World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2018)
- 10x WNBA All-Star teams
- 14x All-WNBA teams (including ten first-team selections)
- Voted by fans as one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time
- WNBA all-time leading scorer
- 6× EuroLeague champion (2007–2010, 2013, 2016)
- 7× Russian National League champion (2007, 2008, 2013–2017)
- 3× Russian Cup winner (2013–2014, 2017)
- 3× Russian League Player of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009)
Statement of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued regarding Diana Taurasi retirement;
Diana Taurasi is one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage. In a record-setting career that saw her play 20 seasons, score more points and make more three-point shots than any player in WNBA history, she has earned the unquestioned respect of players around the globe, delivered electrifying moments and captivated fans again and again. On behalf of the WNBA family, I thank Diana for everything that she has brought to the WNBA – her passion, her charisma and, most of all, her relentless dedication to the game. She leaves a lasting legacy and the future of the WNBA is in a great position because of her impact, that will be felt for generations to come.
After 20 years of playing in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi is officially retiring 🧡
Thank you Diana for changing the game forever, all of the accolades could never amount to the type of person and edge you embodied when you stepped out there on the court
One-of-One 💐 pic.twitter.com/dEtE4NDrGH
— WNBA (@WNBA) February 25, 2025
