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When you think about all of Diana Taurasi’s career accomplishments, where do you go first?
Some might think of her standing as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer. Some may go to her three NCAA titles as a member of the Connecticut dynasty.
Some would point to her six Olympic gold medals. And some might even go to her love of technical fouls.
If you ask her she would point to that second WNBA title with the Phoenix Mercury in 2009.
She went as far to say it was one of the best basketball years of her illustrious career.
“You know, it’s like picking between your kids, right? You probably love them both so much and you can’t pick between them,” she said on an appearance on the Bickley & Marotta Show on Friday. “But, the one that stands out is the ’09 championship here in Phoenix because we won it at home in game five. There’s nothing like winning on your, in your home court, in your city. There was just such electricity in that building and we had such a great team and ’09 really was to me one of the best basketball years I ever had.”
The Mercury won the 2009 title in a thrilling five-game series. The Mercury downed the Indiana Fever 94-86 in front of the Phoenix crowd. Taurasi scored a game-high 26 points to seal the championship as she finished as the leading scorer for the entire playoff run en route to winning Finals MVP.
Taurasi won her lone WNBA MVP award in 2009 as she led the lead in scoring.
Taurasi also led the Mercury to titles in 2007 and 2014.
Diana Taurasi proud to stick with one team
It is rare nowadays that athletes stick with a single franchise for their entire careers, making Taursi’s 20-year tenure in the Valley even more impressive.
She, along with other Valley legends like Shane Doan with the Coyotes and Larry Fitzgerald with the Cardinals, are set apart from their peers in the lore of the state’s sports figures.
Taurasi said she grew up watching NBA legends Magic Johnson and Larry Bird stick with one team for their entire playing careers. Their example showed her that was just how things were done.
“That’s a long relationship,” she said. “It’s not all roses and champagne. There’s a lot of ups and downs, you know. There’s a lot of years where, you know, I was disgruntled and thought about maybe I should leave.
“Maybe I need to move on. Maybe the team needs a new fair start. But, at the end of the day, loyalty is a two-way street and with this city and the fanbase and this organization, we just always had it.”
What’s next for Diana Taurasi?
Taurasi didn’t rule out a potential move into the media space, whether through commentating or other means as a way to stay connected to the game.
“You know there is nothing like the game of basketball,” she said. “I know how much you guys enjoy watching it and talking about it and analyzing, and that’s what’s still fascinating about it. Every new season, every new team gives you this little hope of you know this could be the year.
“You know if that’s a way to stay connected to the game that I have loved since I touched the basketball, if those opportunities come by I’ll have to take a look at them.”
In the meantime though, she plans on getting in some golf or tennis potentially.
“The void will have to be filled by something else,” she said. “I’m going to have to pick up maybe a little bit of golf, or you know tennis I’ve always loved. That was always one of my my passions growing up.”
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