Diana Taurasi Announces Retirement: Kyrie Irving and Basketball Community Pay Tribute
This week marked the official announcement of Diana Taurasi’s retirement from the Phoenix Mercury, a legend who had been with the team for years. The news caused admiration to flood social media and press conferences.
“She’s just a bona fide killer. She comes from that stock of Michael Jordan and Kobe,” Irving said, emphasizing the competitive spirit that defined Taurasi’s career. “Sue Bird being her running mate, and them just being a duo that lasted for such a long time, going against each other. I was one of those kids that looked up to them—it didn’t matter if they were female. I looked up to them because of the way they approached basketball.”
Irving continued expressing his hopes for Taurasi’s well-deserved recognition after her career.
“I’m proud of DT. It’s been a long journey. Hopefully, a few brands shower her with million-dollar deals—that’s retirement. I think that’s the great getaway gift… just make sure that she’s showered with a lot of love and flowers after her career is done. She deserves it. She’s done a lot for basketball culture in general.”
Taurasi and Irving have connections beyond their mutual respect for the game. Taurasi and Draymond Green were part of Team USA at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, where Taurasi’s fierce competitive nature showed up. She was famous for holding her own during a heated team discussion.
A Storied Career Comes to an End
Diana Taurasi’s influence on both the WNBA and basketball as a whole is indescribable. Playing 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, except for 2015 when her Russian team paid her to sit out, she was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft and immediately became the face of the franchise.
Her capacity to score efficiently and effectively was exemplified by her average of 18.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game and her shooting splits of 42.5% from the field, 36% from three, and 87% from the free-throw line.
Taurasi’s legacy as one of the most dominant and respected players in basketball history is marked by her 11-time All-Star status, 2009 WNBA MVP, and three-time champion (2007, 2009, 2014). The basketball community is ensuring that Taurasi receives the flowers she deserves as the WNBA prepares for a future without her on the court, metaphorically and in lucrative post-career opportunities, as Kyrie Irving suggested. Diana Taurasi’s influence will undoubtedly last for decades.
