Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello coached Taurasi for 8 seasons on the Phoenix Mercury.
It’s well known that Diana Taurasi could be playing her last WNBA regular season game tonight. The Phoenix Mercury social media admins have certainly hinted at the possibility, spearheading an “If this is it” campaign and posting a tribute video to her earlier on Thursday.
While Taurasi herself has been noncommittal, rumors have swirled regarding her prospective retirement at the end of this season.
Taurasi was asked about retirement earlier this week, but didn’t give a firm answer either way.
“You know, I don’t know,” Taurasi said. “The last couple of weeks have been a little nerve-racking for myself. I don’t want to make any emotional, rash decisions. I know the end is near. When that is, I don’t know.”
Ahead of the New York Liberty’s final regular season game, head coach Sandy Brondello was asked about the possibility of Taurasi retiring this year, and took the opportunity to praise her former player’s accomplishments. Brondello coached Taurasi from 2014 to 2021, and the Phoenix Mercury won a championship once during that span, in 2014.
“Amazing, amazing career that she’s had. For 20 years to play at the level that she has, what she’s brought to that organization,” Brondello said. “She’s a winner. Three titles, championships. In 20 years doesn’t seem a lot, but it’s hard to win one, some athletes don’t even win one, but just how she’s able to perform it at such a high level for so long, it’s amazing.”
At 42 years old, Taurasi is the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
This season, she has averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. The Mercury will face the Minnesota Lynx in the first game of the first round of the playoffs on Sunday, September 22nd.
“It was a privilege for me to coach her,” Brondello said. “She’s the GOAT. It’s not just about the scoring — she’s an amazing scorer, but just her competitive fire, her spirit, her will to win with her teammates, her leadership. So, if this is the end for Diana, [she’s] still going out on her terms and still playing great basketball.”
