[11] She was also named the 2000 Naismith and Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year, and the 1999 and 2000 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year. [49], The team would go on to win four consecutive Euroleague championships from 2007 to 2010, and Taurasi was named Final Four MVP in 2009 and 2010. Among her career accolades, the 11-year veteran counts three NCAA National Championships, two WNBA championships and three Olympic gold medals. Taurasi joins US Olympic teammate Sue Bird as the only two Olympic basketball players of any gender to win five Olympic gold medals. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD, Published: Saturday, February 18, 2023 - 10:18am, Updated: Saturday, February 18, 2023 - 10:22am. ESPN. "They are special, right? It didn't matter that she was the visitor or even a West rival. That's the one thing that we've dedicated our whole lives to. She's averaged 16.2 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds in her career. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. They laughed like old friends, the recent sting of a loss for Bird and the pride of one last triumph over her best friend for Taurasi not to be found. [7] Taurasi is one of 11 women to win an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold and a WNBA Championship. Taurasi played for Team USA at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, earning her fourth gold medal while helping the United States overcome Spain 10172 in the final. Taurasi pounded her fist in her hand and shouted at referee Jenna Reneau on the baseline. Scoring Record", "Mercury's Diana Taurasi to rest, sit out 2015 WNBA season FOX Sports", "Diana Taurasi Sets WNBA Record For Most Postseason Three-Pointers WNBA.com Official Site of the WNBA", "Mercury, Taurasi Agree to Multi-Year Extension WNBA.com Official Site of the WNBA", "Diana Taurasi Makes History WNBA.com Official Site of the WNBA", "Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi becomes WNBA's all-time scoring leader", "Mercury's Diana Taurasi reaches 8,000-point milestone", "Diana Taurasi Becomes WNBA's All-Time Field Goal Leader", "Taurasi's 37 points push Mercury past Aces", "Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi marries former Mercury player Penny Taylor", "Penny Taylor returning to Phoenix Mercury as assistant coach", "Diana Taurasi out for 10-12 weeks after undergoing back procedure", "Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner plan to return for Phoenix Mercury in 2020", "Diana Taurasi Scores 34 PTS While Wearing No. At 39 years old, Taurasi made history as the oldest player in league history to score an over 30 point game. 8", "Taurasi Meets High Schooler Who Shattered Her Record,", "Past WBCA HS Coaches' All-America Teams", "WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores", "WBCA High School All-America Game Team MVP's", "UConn's Taurasi proves why she's best in nation", "Senator nominates UConn's Taurasi for state heroine", "Women's Basketball 1995 National Championship Team to be Recognized as "Huskies of Honor", "ESPN.com: WNBA - Taurasi impressive in debut, but not successful", "Taurasi, Pondexter lead Mercury to second title in three years", "North Jersey News and Information | NorthJersey.com", "WNBA loses star Diana Taurasi for season because of big Russia payday", "Russian team offering Diana Taurasi more than her WNBA salary to rest", "Russian team pays Taurasi to sit out WNBA season", "Taurasi opts for rest, to skip WNBA season", "Diana Taurasi Breaks W.N.B.A. Maybe this is one of those moments where in a couple years, you talk about the last one -- although I have a feeling I'm not going to talk about this.". She has an older sister named Jessika. She's averaged 16.2 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds in her career. "Hopefully, we put on some good shows through the years," Bird said. Right now this is a good opportunity to be part of this team moving forward well see what happens.". The 6-foot-9 center announced in December when she returned home from her 10-month imprisonment in Russia thatshe planned to remain with Phoenixand play with the Mercury. "Her whole arm is scratched up and bleeding. She broke Katie Smith's league records for points in a season (741 during the 2006 season). Taurasi was selected to be a member of the national team for the World Championships. [38] Taurasi would be selected into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her eighth career all-star game appearance. She tries to leave it at home or in her hotel room. She had to sit out the rest of the season with a strained left hip flexor. Former NBA coach Paul Westhead became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. However, she mainly plays guard. Diana Taurasi (left) and Penny Taylor (right) were teammates on the Phoenix Mercury prior to Taylor's retirement in 2016. The Mercury, who beat the Chicago Sky 91-86 in overtime to even the WNBA Finals . Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe. In 2005, Taurasi averaged 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while battling an ankle injury. "I'm like, 'You guys, we're in Phoenix. Though expected to play through the end of the 20172018 season with the team, Taurasi announced her retirement from European competition in December 2017. The Mercury still need to re-sign Brittney Griner, who is also a free agent. "So, those memories, they stay close to my heart, whether we played against each other, with each other. [25], In 2011, alongside being selected to her 7th All-WNBA First Team,[26] she was voted one of the Top 15 players in the fifteen-year history of the WNBA by fans.[27]. Taurasi would come back healthy for the season and played 19 of the 22 games, on August 23, 2020, Taurasi scored a season-high 34 points in an 8887 victory over the Washington Mystics while honoring the late Kobe Bryant on his birthday by wearing number 8 along with his last name on her jersey. In 2012, Taurasi had an injury-riddled season, playing only eight games. During a pregame ceremony that included a video tribute, Taurasi presented Bird with a pair of custom Jordan 1s that honor Bird and her career. "There's moments where the emotion does get to me, but you're also trying to play a basketball game, right? "They were very poised, and Skylar [Diggins-Smith] was the vocal point in the huddles, just making sure we stayed together during that time.". Taurasi, 39, who is in her 18th WNBA season, finished the game with 5 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in 13 minutes. In the first round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the Dallas Wings 10183. [64] She helped Team USA capture the gold medal, defeating Australia in the championship game. People lingering after the game waved and took pictures. The Mercury still need to re-sign Brittney Griner, who is also a free agent. [66], Taurasi was invited to the USA Basketball women's national team training camp in the fall of 2009. Her eight three-pointers were the second-most made in a playoff game in the WNBA's postseason history. In another development, Diana Taurasi signed a multiyear contract to remain with the Phoenix Mercury, the team announced Saturday. Vandersloot to New York, the rise of superteams and a Liberty-Aces WNBA Finals? The WNBA's all-time leading scorer has only played with. Diana Taurasi has re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, agreeing to a multiyear contract, the team announced Saturday. CHICAGO -- WNBA all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi was ejected late in the second quarter of Tuesday's 73-70 loss to the Chicago Sky -- the Phoenix Mercury's sixth straight defeat -- after berating a referee. She holds the franchise record in 16 categories and with 9,693 points in her career should go over the 10,000-point mark next season if she stays healthy. E.g. Others who had achieved this were Ruth Riley, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, and fellow Huskies Swin Cash, Kara Wolters, and Sue Bird, with further players added to the list in following years. They appreciated what was unfolding before them Friday night. She was the first overall pick in the 2004 draft after winning three national championships at Connecticut. But to Bird, publicly, No. [46][47] The Mercury had finished 139 as the number 5 seed, they defeated the Washington Mystics 8584 in the first round elimination game, however they would get eliminated by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round elimination game by a final score of 8079. The 40-year-old Taurasi has won three WNBA titles in Phoenix and been honored as the league's MVP in 2009. Regardless of if they meet in the postseason, Friday night was about Taurasi and Bird. If she were to play in those Olympics she could potentially win a sixth gold medal, breaking a tie with former U.S. teammate Sue Bird for most all-time in the sport. "[15], Taurasi also received many personal accolades at UConn including the 2003 and 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year awards, the 2003 Wade Trophy, the 2003 and 2004 Honda Sports Award and the 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year award. Free shipping for many products! During her time at UConn, her team compiled a record of 139 wins and 8 losses. [44] Taurasi would continue to be hobbled throughout the season, this time with a hamstring injury which limited her to only 6 games played for the season with very minimal playing time. Diana Taurasi has re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, agreeing to a multiyear contract, the team announced Saturday. The Mercury advanced to the second round beating the Fever in the first round elimination game as Taurasi scored 20 points. Last season she was averaging 23.2 points after the All-Star break before having her season cut short by a quad injury. This one was warranted, though. [37] On June 18, 2017, Taurasi became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, passing Tina Thompson's old record. On Oct.8, 2021, shortly before the birth of her daughter Taurasi led her team to a 87-84 Game 5 win making her 16-2 overall in win or take all games with 24 points, a crucial late game block and 14 clutch 4th quarter points. Tesla Mexico plant means $10-billion investment, Nuevo Leon governor says, Assistants kindly request that you stop calling them assistants, Working more on the weekends? Diana departed this 1,029,337 square foot home in 2018. During that game she made a WNBA record 8 three-pointers (which has since been tied by Riquna Williams). And I go up there, and they're throwing toilet paper at me, holy water.". She received a standing ovation when she received the Mercury's gift and another cheer when she was introduced -- just like Taurasi complained about. Taking the court primarily at point guard and shooting guard, she led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships. February 18, 2023. Diana Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer, will miss the remainder of the regular season with a quad strain, the Phoenix Mercury announced Monday, as the . In the 2014 season, with a supporting cast of all-star power forward Candice Dupree (who was traded to the Mercury in 2010), rising star Brittney Griner (who was drafted 1st overall in the 2013 WNBA draft) and the arrival of new head coach Sandy Brondello, the Phoenix Mercury finished 295, setting the record for most wins in a regular season, earning the top seed in the western conference. "I know sometimes, we're getting introduced and, 'Sue Bird '" Taurasi said, before mimicking applause. Others emerged out of closed doors to point and stare, their phones up the whole time. In her WNBA debut, Taurasi scored 22 points in a 7266 Mercury loss to the Sacramento Monarchs. Diana Taurasi faced off one last time against rival superstar Sue Bird, who is retiring at the end of the season, with Taurasi scoring 28 points in a 94-78 Mercury win. 46 wasn't all that different from the first 45. Mario and Liliana Taurasi emigrated from Argentina to the United States before Diana was born. ", Bird: Last game with rival Taurasi 'a celebration', WNBA mock draft: Villanova's Siegrist soars into lottery pick, Serena, Griner honored at NAACP Image Awards, Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. Taurasitold The Associated Pressearlier this month while participating in a USA Basketball training camp that she had her eyes on the Paris Games, which she'd be 42 years old at. "I think we did all right. Several players shared scoring honors, with Swin Cash, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Taurasi, Lindsay Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high scorer in the first few games. PHOENIX (AP) - Diana Taurasi has re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, agreeing to a multiyear contract, the team announced Saturday. The 40-year old Taurasi is a 10-time All-Star and three-time WNBA champion. 2006 would be an historic season for Taurasi as she flourished under Westhead's system, leading the league in scoring and earning a third straight trip to the All Star Game. Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. Nygaard said after the game that Taurasi sustained contact throughout that the refs didn't call. On February 3, 2015, Taurasi announced that she would sit out the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian Premier League team, UMMC Ekaterinburg. [1] [2] She was drafted by Phoenix first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft. Diana Taurasi has re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, agreeing to a multi-year contract, the team announced Saturday.