It’s well-known that Diana Taurasi could possibly be enjoying her final WNBA common season recreation tonight. The Phoenix Mercury social media admins have definitely hinted on the risk, spearheading an “If that is it” marketing campaign and posting a tribute video to her earlier on Thursday.
Whereas Taurasi herself has been noncommittal, rumors have swirled concerning her potential retirement on the finish of this season.
Taurasi was requested about retirement earlier this week, however didn’t give a agency reply both approach.
“You already know, I don’t know,” Taurasi mentioned. “The final couple of weeks have been a bit nerve-racking for myself. I don’t wish to make any emotional, rash selections. I do know the tip is close to. When that’s, I don’t know.”
Forward of the New York Liberty’s remaining common season recreation, head coach Sandy Brondello was requested about the potential for Taurasi retiring this yr, and took the chance to reward her former participant’s accomplishments. Brondello coached Taurasi from 2014 to 2021, and the Phoenix Mercury gained a championship as soon as throughout that span, in 2014.
“Wonderful, superb profession that she’s had. For 20 years to play on the degree that she has, what she’s dropped at that group,” Brondello mentioned. “She’s a winner. Three titles, championships. In 20 years doesn’t appear lots, but it surely’s exhausting to win one, some athletes don’t even win one, however simply how she’s capable of carry out it at such a excessive degree for thus lengthy, it’s superb.”
At 42 years outdated, Taurasi is the WNBA’s all-time main scorer, and is broadly thought-about to be one of many biggest gamers to ever play the sport.
This season, she has averaged 15.1 factors, 3.9 rebounds, and three.4 assists per recreation. The Mercury will face the Minnesota Lynx within the first recreation of the primary spherical of the playoffs on Sunday, September twenty second.
“It was a privilege for me to educate her,” Brondello mentioned. “She’s the GOAT. It’s not simply concerning the scoring — she’s a tremendous scorer, however simply her aggressive hearth, her spirit, her will to win together with her teammates, her management. So, if that is the tip for Diana, [she’s] nonetheless going out on her phrases and nonetheless enjoying nice basketball.”
