Diana Taurasi, enjoying in her twentieth WNBA season, didn’t formally announce her retirement Thursday evening after the Phoenix Mercury’s common season finale towards the Seattle Storm. However the Mercury icon hinted the top could also be imminent as she addressed the house crowd.
“If it’s the final time, it felt like the primary time,” Taurasi stated as the gang chanted, “yet one more 12 months.”
“I really like you guys.”
Taurasi performed 18 minutes Thursday because the Mercury misplaced 89-70 to the Storm, the place she scored 9 factors and tallied one rebound and two assists. With 3:11 remaining within the fourth quarter, followers on the Footprint Middle acquired on their ft, urging Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts to sub Taurasi again into the sport. The primary-year coach obliged. Taurasi checked again into the sport the place she blew a kiss and clapped to the gang, who showered her with cheers.
It was a 10-second curtain name for the Mercury followers to indicate their appreciation for a historic participant in doubtlessly her ultimate residence recreation. As Taurasi left the court docket, followers chanted, “Another 12 months.”
Diana Taurasi checks again in and the gang is lovin’ each second of it 🥹
SEA-PHX | League Go 📱 pic.twitter.com/MIaFPkvB0g
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2024
When the sport ended, the lights dimmed within the seating areas because the highlight beamed on Taurasi at middle court docket. Earlier than she addressed the gang, a tribute video for Taurasi performed on the display screen above. It was the identical video that the Mercury social media account posted to X on Thursday afternoon, teasing a possible retirement announcement.
Taurasi thanked town of Phoenix, a spot she referred to as “residence.” She praised her teammates and coaches, together with the followers who supported her profession.
Pricey Dee –
Love,
All of Us pic.twitter.com/SnO1q10Fdp— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 19, 2024
“I need to thank each single coach, each single participant, each single person who’s placed on a WNBA jersey as a result of it takes the village,” Taurasi stated. “For everybody who performed earlier than this league is the place it’s now — we’re grateful for you guys and we’re grateful for the subsequent era.”
A number of high-profile athletes and coaches attended Taurasi’s potential final recreation, together with four-time WNBA champion Sue Hen, World Cup and Olympic champion Megan Rapinoe, UConn coach Geno Auriemma, UConn affiliate coach Chris Dailey, Phoenix Suns taking pictures guard Damion Lee, small ahead Josh Okogie and Taurasi’s dad and mom Mario and Lilliana.
If Thursday was the top of Taurasi’s WNBA profession, she would go away the game a jam-packed resume. Profitable three championships, turning into the league’s all-time main scorer, incomes six gold medals with Group USA and making 11 WNBA All-Star Recreation appearances. Her data embrace being the primary WNBA participant to attain 10,000 profession factors, turning into the oldest participant in both the NBA or WNBA to attain 40 factors in a recreation and her total level whole (10,646 factors).
For the Mercury, the group superior to the playoffs after lacking the postseason final 12 months for the primary time in a decade. However Thursday evening was about Taurasi, her seemingly farewell and an opportunity for the Phoenix crowd to have a good time one of many franchise’s completed gamers.
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(Photograph: Christian Petersen / Getty Photographs)
