PHOENIX (AP) 鈥� Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women's basketball history.
The WNBA's career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday . The Phoenix Mercury 鈥� the only WNBA team she played for 鈥� also confirmed her decision.
鈥淢entally and physically, I鈥檓 just full,鈥� Taurasi told Time. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably the best way I can describe it. I鈥檓 full and I鈥檓 happy.鈥�
With her taut hair bun and supreme confidence, Taurasi inspired a generation of players while racking up records and championships.
Taurasi led UConn to three straight national titles from 2001-04 and kept on winning after the Mercury selected her with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2004 WNBA draft.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put into words, it really is, what this means. When someone鈥檚 defined the game, when someone鈥檚 had such an impact on so many people and so many places. You can鈥檛 define it with a quote,鈥� UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a life that is a novel, it鈥檚 a movie, it鈥檚 a miniseries, it鈥檚 a saga. It鈥檚 the life of an extraordinary person who, I think, had as much to do with changing women鈥檚 basketball as anyone who鈥檚 ever played the game.鈥�
The 42-year-old won her sixth Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games and finishes her WNBA career with 10,646 points, nearly 3,000 more than second-place Tina Charles.
鈥淚 thank Diana for everything that she has brought to the WNBA 鈥� her passion, her charisma and, most of all, her relentless dedication to the game,鈥� WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. "She leaves a lasting legacy and the future of the WNBA is in a great position because of her impact, that will be felt for generations to come.鈥�
In addition to her three WNBA championships with the Mercury, Taurasi won six Euroleague championships while playing year-round most of her career. She was the 2009 WNBA MVP and is one of four players to earn WNBA Finals MVP honors more than once (2009, 2014).
鈥淒iana is the greatest to have ever played the game. I鈥檝e been a fan of her my entire life, she is the ultimate leader and teammate,鈥� Mercury owner Mat Ishbia said in a statement. 鈥淪he鈥檚 had an incredible impact on our franchise, our community and the game of basketball. Her name is synonymous with the Phoenix Mercury and she will forever be part of our family.鈥�
Taurasi made the all-WNBA first team 10 times and was on the first or second team a record 14 times. She's also an 11-time WNBA All-Star, four-time USA Basketball female athlete of the year and was the 2004 WNBA rookie of the year.
鈥淚n my opinion, what the greats have in common is, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport," Auriemma said. 鈥淔or as long as people talk about college basketball, WNBA basketball, Olympic basketball, Diana is the greatest winner in the history of basketball, period. I鈥檝e had the pleasure of being around her for a lot of those moments, and she鈥檚 the greatest teammate I鈥檝e ever coached.鈥�
The Glendale, California, native holds numerous WNBA records, including playoff scoring, field goals, 3-pointers and 30-point games. She also holds 16 Mercury records.
Now that she's retired, Taurasi will be able to spend more time with her wife, Penny Taylor 鈥� a former Mercury teammate 鈥� and their two children.
For her career, Taurasi averaged 18.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds. She averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists while leading the Mercury to the playoffs during her 20th season.
鈥淚 mean, she just scored at all three levels,鈥� Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon said. 鈥淛ust nasty out there. Just had that nasty, which I love. Like, you love that as a competitor. So our league is going to miss her.鈥�
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Feinberg reported from New York.
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AP WNBA:
John Marshall And Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
