PHOENIX, AZ — Diana Taurasi has dominated the WNBA for more than two decades, and in becoming the most accomplished player in league history, the Phoenix Mercury star has been known for her unrivaled passion for the game. From her perspective of the sport, she has been through a lot and shared more experiences and wisdom than most of us. A three-time champion, a multiple-time All-Star, a WNBA leading scorer, and a six-time Olympic Gold Medalist for USA Basketball, Taurasi spoke about the importance of longevity, the memories that stick out, and the advice she would give her younger self.
Her remarkable is an affirmation of her resilience and love for the sport.
“It’s something that as a group, and especially when you’ve been somewhere 20 years, it’s conversations that we’ve had, and you know, I’m happy that they’re able to have these conversations and let me do it the way I want to do it.,” Taurasi told Nitecast Media.
Limited in scope, she appreciates being able to tell her story, even if it can be unpredictable.
“Someone once said to me, ‘You don’t get to choose your ending; at some point, it ends, and it ends.’ You know, 20 years later or however long it is now. It’s been a fun ride.“
When asked about the most treasured memories of her long career in Los Angeles, her mind turned personal: “I mean, to be honest, I have one memory, and that’s saying goodbye to Kobe [Bryant].”
This moment is bigger than any single accomplishment or triumph of hers. “That’s a huge reason why I approach the game the way I do,“ she said, having watched Kobe Bryant’s commitment throughout his career. “It didn’t matter, and you know that to me is gonna be always the biggest moment in this building.”
Taurasi was deep in thought when asked what guidance she would give her younger self. She accentuated the necessity of fortitude in the face of opposition: “Everything you go through, all your experiences make you who you are, and you have to get through them. It’s going through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and if you can pick yourself up and try to do better the next day, that’s what makes you who you are at the end of the day.“
For Taurasi, it’s about being consistent, persisting, taking it daily, and seeing how a small thing today can yield personal and professional growth in a month or a year.
Her affinity for the game began in early childhood, watching the Los Angeles Sparks and Lakers play, igniting her passion for the basketball sport. “Obviously growing up here watching the Sparks and the Lakers when I was a kid, that’s why I fell in love with basketball.“
Playing in her hometown of Southern California, surrounded by family and friends, has always meant something to her.
“You know there’s nothing like playing at home, and it’s always been special, and it will always be special.”
“Diana Taurasi is one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert said in a statement regarding Taurasi’s retirement from the league. “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.”
From a kid growing up in Chino, California, to her championship days at UConn and the WNBA hierarchy, her legacy is just as much about her achievement as it is about the unbreakable spirit she lives every day.
