PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi hasn’t officially announced her retirement yet after a remarkable 20-year career in the WNBA, all with the Phoenix Mercury. However, with the playoffs beginning on Sunday, the end seems imminent.
She is definitely considering it. As Bruce Springsteen mentioned during a recent performance, she won’t return next season just to bid farewell.
“I won’t be doing any [farewell] tours,” Taurasi shared in a recent media conference at Footprint Center. “When I go, I’ll just go. Don’t we always just go?”
Sometimes.
Her much younger teammate Brittney Griner expressed almost a wistful sentiment, saying, “She’ll be around until I retire.”
But don’t bet on it. With Griner at 33 and Taurasi at 42, both players will become free agents after the playoffs, starting with a best-of-three game first-round series for the Mercury that kicks off on Sunday in Minnesota.
Griner joined the Mercury when Taurasi was already established as a generational talent in the WNBA. They were part of the team that secured the 2014 WNBA title and have been teammates since, except for Griner’s challenging season spent in a Russian prison two years ago.
Reflecting on Taurasi’s influence as a leader, Griner mentioned, “When she says something, you see how everybody is just locked in. It’s something I’ve always cherished—when she coached me on the side or helped me out. I was young and naïve, and I learned a lot.”
Taurasi entered the WNBA as a trailblazer and recognizes that she will be departing at a time when the league is reaching new heights. The outstanding performances this season from rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have elevated the league’s trajectory. With increased marketing, ticket sales, and media rights investments, along with higher levels of attention, the WNBA is thriving.
Taurasi acknowledged the league’s remarkable journey, stating, “This league started in 1997, and every building was sold out for three straight years. For whatever reason, it lost some of its momentum.”
However, that momentum has returned. Taurasi expressed no sadness about retiring amidst this significant period of growth. Her friend and fellow UConn alum Sue Bird retired in Seattle two years ago after 21 seasons, at the same age Taurasi is now.
When you “just go,” as Taurasi mentioned, “and you’re around it for a long time, you always want to leave it better, and that’s where it’s at right now. This thing is in a great place in terms of attendance, coverage, presence on social platforms, and TV exposure. I think it’s in a place where it can only get better.”
Currently, player salaries have not kept pace with the league’s growth. The league’s salary cap per team this season was $1.46 million, with Taurasi’s $234,936 salary not even ranking as the highest on her team, according to Spotrac. Kahleah Copper held that title with $245,059. Throughout Taurasi’s entire WNBA career, she earned $1.15 million in salary.
In comparison, the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is set to earn $49.2 million in the coming season, highlighting the disparity in salaries between the WNBA and the NBA.
Team owner Mat Ishbia, who also owns the Suns, recently inaugurated a $100 million practice facility south of the arena in downtown Phoenix for the Mercury. This move aims to provide equal resources to the women’s team and signals a commitment to the growth of women’s basketball within the organization and the community.
Looking back at Taurasi’s impact, Ishbia remarked, “It’s an investment I made, and we made as an organization for the Mercury. We’re going to continue to evolve. The investment in basketball and community is not going to stop.”
While others will benefit from these advancements, Taurasi, whose name adorns the practice basketball courts in perpetuity, may not be there to see it.
Taurasi was pivotal in all three of the Mercury’s championship victories, earning Finals MVP in two of them. Recently, the team celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their 2014 win, with most players returning to Footprint Center on Sept. 13. As the No. 7 seed in the playoffs, the Mercury have an outside chance at another title, but Taurasi understands the reality.
If the Mercury lose both games in Target Center, their season will end. Her potentially last home game could have been on Thursday in the regular-season finale. If they split, a deciding Game 3 will be held at Footprint on Friday night.
Taurasi reflected, “You just think you’re going to keep winning them. As we all know, sports always takes a turn whether it’s injury, free agency, people wanting different roles, coaching changes. There’s always different things. It’s never promised you will get back there or even win it.”
The physical and mental toll of the sport is evident as Taurasi and Griner struggle on the court. Following a disappointing loss to the Connecticut Sun, Taurasi shot 1-for-7, scoring only seven points.
Despite her efforts to adapt her diet and training to stay competitive, Taurasi’s performance has fluctuated. A leg injury sidelined her for four of the Mercury’s first 39 games before the Olympic break, where she contributed to Team USA’s gold medal win.
As she contemplates retirement, Taurasi remains beloved by teammates and opponents alike.
“Respect the experience, love, and passion she brings to the game,” remarked Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright. “For younger kids, it’s really a good opportunity to know who you’re playing with, but definitely sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.”
As the playoffs conclude, uncertainty lingers about Taurasi’s future. Will it be after this season or the next? Only Taurasi truly knows.
“This league is hard. It takes its toll physically and mentally,” she reflected. “I never imagined playing for 20 years.”
