Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and a three-time champion with the Phoenix Mercury, is officially hanging up her jersey. After two decades of dominance, the 42-year-old guard announced her retirement, closing out a career that redefined women’s basketball.
“Mentally and physically, I’m just full,”Taurasi told Time in an interview.“That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.” The sentiment reflects the kind of career most players can only dream of-six Olympic gold medals, an MVP award, and an impact on the game that stretches far beyond stats.
As the basketball world absorbed the news, Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark kept her reaction short and to the point. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year reposted ESPN’s announcement of Taurasi’s retirement, adding just one word:
“Legend.” That’s it. No frills, no long caption-just a direct acknowledgment of what Taurasi means to the game.
Clark’s admiration for Taurasi has been evident throughout her rise in the sport. She grew up watching the Mercury star dominate, and their brief overlap in the WNBA was a symbolic passing of the torch. The two faced off three times in the 2024 season, with Clark’s Fever winning each matchup by a combined 24 points.
At just 22 years old, Clark is already shaping the future of the league. She led the WNBA in assists as a rookie, averaged 19.2 points per game, and earned All-WNBA First Team honors in her debut season.
A New Era Begins for the Phoenix Mercury
With Taurasi’s retirement, the Mercury will look drastically different in 2025. Brittney Griner is also on the move, signing with the Atlanta Dream after more than a decade in Phoenix. To help fill the star-power void, the Mercury added Alyssa Thomas, one of the league’s most versatile players, to their roster.
While no one can truly replace Taurasi, the league is entering a new chapter, with Clark at the center of it. Her presence has already elevated the WNBA’s visibility, and with legends like Taurasi stepping away, all eyes are on Clark and the next wave of superstars.
Taurasi may be done playing, but her influence won’t fade. And judging by Clark’s one-word tribute, the impact of the GOAT is fully understood by those now carrying the torch.
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