It’s well-known that Diana Taurasi might be enjoying her final WNBA common season sport 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 relating to 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.
“, I don’t know,” Taurasi stated. “The final couple of weeks have been somewhat nerve-racking for myself. I don’t need 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 closing common season sport, head coach Sandy Brondello was requested about the potential of Taurasi retiring this 12 months, 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 stage that she has, what she’s delivered to that group,” Brondello stated. “She’s a winner. Three titles, championships. In 20 years doesn’t appear rather a lot, but it surely’s exhausting to win one, some athletes don’t even win one, however simply how she’s in a position to carry out it at such a excessive stage for thus lengthy, it’s superb.”
At 42 years previous, Taurasi is the WNBA’s all-time main scorer, and is extensively 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 sport. The Mercury will face the Minnesota Lynx within the first sport of the primary spherical of the playoffs on Sunday, September twenty second.
“It was a privilege for me to educate her,” Brondello stated. “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 along 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.”
