A recent ticket promotion by the Phoenix Mercury has sparked speculation about the future of WNBA star guard Diana Taurasi. The team shared a cryptic video on social media, suggesting that fans only have two more opportunities to see Taurasi play at home.
The video features images of the 42-year-old guard throughout her career with the words “If This Is It,” hinting that this may be Taurasi’s final season. The post directs attention to the last two Phoenix home games in September.
Taurasi, who signed a two-year contract before the 2023 season, will become a free agent after this season. The first overall pick in the 2004 draft by Phoenix, she has played her entire career with the Mercury. Should she retire, it would be fitting for her to do so in a Mercury uniform.
Despite ongoing retirement rumors, Taurasi, the oldest active player in the league at 42, has previously expressed her desire for a sudden exit from the sport. In 2022, she stated that she would play until she felt she couldn’t perform at her best anymore.
“I’ll let you guys know when I’m done because you’re not gonna see me anymore,” Taurasi told ESPN in 2022. “When I’m done playing, I’m just going to stop playing. I’m not going to ease my way out. I want to play, and when I suck, I won’t play. Trust me, I’ll be in those workouts in the winter and be like, ‘Hmm, that’s it.’ ”
Prior to her appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Taurasi joked about retiring on the beach in LA in 2028, hinting that Paris would be her final Olympic Games. She secured her sixth gold medal in the recent Olympics, making her one of three athletes to represent Team USA in six or more Olympics.
Taurasi, an 11-time WNBA All-Star, has had another remarkable season, averaging 15.1 points, four rebounds, and 3.3 assists. She also leads the league in technical fouls, sharing the top spot with her Mercury teammate Natasha Cloud.
If the Mercury’s speculations are accurate, Taurasi will only have four regular-season games left in a Phoenix jersey, with two home games against the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm in September. While Phoenix is currently in seventh place in the standings, a playoff spot is achievable, potentially prolonging Taurasi’s season. However, a lower seed in the playoffs means a home playoff game is not guaranteed.
