A video released this week has stirred up a significant buzz in American women's basketball, leading to speculation: Is Diana Taurasi, the greatest player of all time, about to retire in 10 days?
The video from the Phoenix Mercury, where Taurasi plays, released on Monday night features images of the 42-year-old star throughout her career with the caption, "Is this the moment?" The post also noted that Phoenix fans have "only two more opportunities to see Taurasi in a home game."
With Phoenix out of the WNBA playoffs, many anticipate that on September 20th, after the home game against the Seattle Storm, Taurasi will announce her retirement. The guard, who is the oldest player in the league, is finishing her contract with the team this summer. Two years ago, when asked about her retirement plans, she said, "I will let you know when it happens because then you won't see me anymore."
It's worth mentioning that before her appearance at the Paris Olympics, where the USA won gold, Taurasi joked that "at the Los Angeles 2028 games, you'll see me on the beach with a beer in hand."
The true GOAT
Taurasi is a superstar in American sports (yes, even amid the ongoing Caitlin Clark excitement). In November 2021, she was voted the greatest WNBA player of all time in a comprehensive fan poll celebrating the league's 25th season, titled "VOTE FOR THE GOAT." WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated, "This recognition reflects her excellence on the court and her leading role in promoting the WNBA. She is a role model everywhere."
The veteran player has long been a fixture in the league's record books. She is the WNBA's all-time leading scorer and holds the top spot for two-point and three-point scoring in both the regular season and playoffs. She has been named to the league's All-WNBA Team 14 times in her 21-year career, more than any other player.
Taurasi isn't just the face of the WNBA; she's also the best player in the world. Her resume boasts three consecutive NCAA championships with Connecticut (2002-2004), three WNBA titles with Phoenix (2007, 2009, 2014), and five-time league scoring champion honors.
Comparisons to the greatest basketball players have always been present. In 2009, after her then-team Spartak Moscow won the European Super Cup, her coach, Hungarian Laszlo Ratgeber, declared that Taurasi was better than Michael Jordan. "Jordan is a person with quite a bit of luck," Ratgeber said seriously, adding, "If Diana Taurasi had been born a man, she would have been the best basketball player of all time."
Taurasi has always been a trailblazer, once saying, "People say they don't want to be known just for being basketball players, but I do. I want to be known just as a basketball player."
Former Philadelphia assistant coach Lindsey Harding, who played against Taurasi and Team USA over the years in the WNBA, once said she could play in the NBA. "There are great players in the league, but a name is missing that you all know," Harding said in 2019. "Diana Taurasi is one of the best players to ever play the game. She shoots better than most people I've seen, including men. I'd love to see her try. I'm not saying she'd lock down players on defense, but her court movement, scoring, and game intelligence deserve a chance."