The three-time WNBA champion and one of the best players, Diana Taurasi, will return to Phoenix.
According to Shams Charania from The AthleticAccording to reports, Taurasi will sign a multi-year deal to stay with the Phoenix Mercury.
In the 2004 WNBA draft, Taurasi was drafted by the team as the first in the overall ranking and has established itself as a certified bucket in the course of her career. On her rookie debut, she lost 22 points in a loss to the Sacramento Monarchs, averaging 17 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game that season. She was then named Rookie of the Year and was the first team to be All-WNBA.
Since then she has led the Mercury to three WNBA championship titles, is nine times WNBA All-Star, WNBA MVP and twice WNBA Finals MVP. She currently holds the record for most points in a WNBA career (8931), overtaking Tina Thompson in 2017.
Diana Taurasi makes recordings that don’t make sense. Deadeye shooter. (over @ WNBA) pic.twitter.com/dQCAnmLW1G
– SLAM (@SLAMonline) 29th August 2018
In their 16th season, Taurasi averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 19 games in the Wubble.
When asked about retirement, the 38-year-old told ESPN’s Katie Barnes that her only focus right now is to excel on the pitch. It doesn’t stop anytime soon.
“I do not stop; I don’t feel like I should stop now. Who knows? In six months it could be a different story. But right now people are asking me what I want to do after basketball … I’m doing basketball right now. I do everything to be on the pitch. Not being in the front office, not coaching. My only goal is to be on the pitch and be bad. It’s easy. “
While the WNBA Independent Agency continues to operate, Mercury has taken a giant step by signing a new veteran and leader like Taurasi and adding security guard Skylar Diggins-Smith to its roster. Along with center Brittney Griner, the Mercury’s big three will be a must for the coming season.
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