Diana Taurasi is one of the greatest players in WNBA history – there’s no denying it. She became the first player to eclipse 10,000 career points in August and ended her 19th season with 16.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, despite turning 41 years old in June and missing 14 games to injury.
Aside from being the league’s all-time leading scorer, she holds records for most career field goals made (3,169), three-point field goals made (1,361), and free throws (2,409). While she’ll never break Sue Bird’s record for most career assists, there are a few records owned by Bird that Taurasi might break soon.
Those records are games played and minutes played. When Bird retired at the end of last season, she had 580 games played and 18,080 minutes played. Taurasi ended the 2023 season 52 games short and 1,803 minutes short of breaking those records – she’ll need 2-3 more seasons to do it, but it’s possible.
Diana Taurasi Announces Her Intent to Play in 2024
via Shutterstock (Keeton Gale)
Playing 2-3 more seasons will be challenging for a player who’s already 41 years old, but the good news is she has already announced her intent to play in 2024 – which means we’ll at least get one more year of Taurasi on the floor. And as long as Taurasi is on the floor, you know she’s going to give 110% full effort.
“I’ve got another year on my contract and I’m definitely going to fulfill that. I’m excited with what we’ll be able to do in free agency and having some salary cap space to make some moves,” she said at the end of the season. She also announced her intent to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The grind doesn’t stop for Diana Taurasi and it’s a big reason why she’s the star we see today – I mean we’re talking about a former Rookie of the Year, 2009 MVP, 3-time champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 10-time All-Star, 5-time scoring champion, 2014 assists leader, and 6-time WNBA Peak Performer. She does it all.
To commemorate all she has done for the game as she prepares for her 20th season in the WNBA, let’s take a look at what she has accomplished over the past 19 years.
1. 2004 Season
𝐎𝐓𝐃: 19 years ago today we selected Diana Taurasi with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 @WNBA Draft
Diana Taurasi averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 33.2 minutes per game (34 games played) during the 2004 season – her rookie season. She shot 42% from the field, 33% from long range, and 76% from the free throw line. The Phoenix Mercury finished the season 17-17.
Her season highs were 29 points (July 1), 11 rebounds (Sept. 3), 8 assists (twice), 3 steals (3 times), and 4 blocks (July 3). She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft, won Rookie of the Year, was named to the All-WNBA First Team, and even won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Diana Taurasi averaged 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 33.0 minutes per game (33 games played) during the 2005 season. She shot 41% from the floor, 31% from beyond the three-point line, and 80% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 16-18 record.
Her season highs were 31 points (Aug. 27), 9 rebounds (Aug. 5), 8 assists (4 times), 4 steals (June 18), and 3 blocks (May 21). She scored at least 20 points in seven games (compared to 13 the year before), was named an All-Star for the first time in her career, and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
3. 2006 Season
In 2006, Diana made 121 threes, most ever in a @WNBA season. In 2017 her 96 threes were the second-most in WNBA history. Watch them all! pic.twitter.com/saEq7I7uFg
Diana Taurasi averaged a career-high 25.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 33.9 minutes per game (34 games) during the 2006 season. She shot 45% from the floor, 40% from the three-point line, and 78% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with an 18-16 record.
Her season highs were 47 points (Aug. 10), 9 rebounds (July 9), 9 assists (Aug. 10), 7 steals (Aug. 8), and 4 blocks (July 16). She was named an All-Star for the second time, was named to the All-WNBA First Time for the second time, was the WNBA’s leading scorer, and was named the WNBA Peak Performer.
She also won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Brazil and was named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year for the first time.
4. 2007 Season
2007 was the beginning of a dynasty in Phoenix.
We’re taking it back to when the All-Star trio of Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor and Cappie Pondexter changed the culture of the Phoenix Mercury and turned the course of history!@sweetjames | Sweet Plays Since ’98 pic.twitter.com/xrsg0yVbdc
Diana Taurasi averaged 19.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 32.0 minutes per game (32 games) during the 2007 season. She shot 44% from the floor, 37% from long range, and 84% from the charity stripe. Phoenix went 23-11 in the regular season before winning the WNBA Finals.
Her season highs were 37 points (May 25), 9 rebounds (July 11), 9 assists (twice), 6 steals (July 8), and 4 blocks (July 25). In addition to winning her first WNBA championship, Taurasi was named an All-Star for the third time, the All-WNBA First Team for the third time, and WNBA Peak Performer for the second time.
She was also a EuroLeague champion for the first time, a Russian National League champion for the first time, and the Russian League Player of the Year for the first time.
In 2008, Phoenix Mercury PG Diana Taurasi had 23 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 2 BLK, 1 STL, including this 3 Pointer in a home 99-92 win against the Los Angeles Sparks.
— Today In Moments History (@TodayInMoments) July 17, 2023
Diana Taurasi averaged 24.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game (34 games) during the 2008 season. She shot 45% from the floor, 36% from beyond the three-point line, and 87% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 16-18 record.
Her season highs were 37 points (June 11), 10 rebounds (twice), 9 assists (June 26), 3 steals (4 times), and 5 blocks (Sept. 3). Taurasi scored at least 30 points on 10 occasions, was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the fourth time, and was the league’s leading scorer for the second time in her career.
She also won her second gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, was a EuroLeague champion for the second time, a Russian National League champion for the second time, and the Russian League Player of the Year for the second time.
Diana Taurasi averaged 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 31.5 minutes per game (31 games) during the 2009 season. She shot 46% from the floor, 41% from long range, and 90% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season 23-11 before winning the WNBA Finals.
Her season highs were 34 points (July 26), 13 rebounds (July 26), 7 assists (3 times), 5 steals (Sept. 10), and 5 blocks (June 21). In addition to winning her second WNBA championship, she was named Finals MVP, regular season MVP, an All-Star, and to the All-WNBA First Team. She was also the league’s leading scorer and the WNBA Peak Performer.
She was also a EuroLeague champion for the third time and Russian League Player of the Year for the third time.
Diana Taurasi averaged 22.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game (31 games played) during the 2010 season. She shot 43% from the floor, 37% from beyond the three-point line, and 91% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 15-19 record.
Her season highs were 44 points (July 14), 7 rebounds (5 times), 11 assists (Aug. 1), 4 steals (twice), and 2 blocks (6 times). She was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the sixth time in her career, was the league’s leading scorer for the fourth time in her career, and was named the league’s Peak Performer.
She was also a EuroLeague champion for the fourth time in her career, won a gold medal with the United States at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in the Czech Republic, and was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year.
Diana Taurasi averaged 21.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game (32 games played) during the 2011 season. She shot 45% from the floor, 40% from beyond the three-point line, and 90% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 19-15 record.
Her season highs were 36 points (Sept. 9), 8 rebounds (twice), 8 assists (July 13), 3 steals (twice), and 4 blocks (Sept. 11). She was named an All-Star for the fifth time, was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the seventh time, was the league’s scoring leader for the fifth time, and was the WNBA’s Peak Performer.
She was also named to the WNBA 15th Anniversary Team and was a Turkish National League champion for the first time.
Diana Taurasi averaged 14.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game (8 games played) during the 2012 season. She shot 44% from the floor, 40% from beyond the three-point line, and 90% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 7-27 record.
Taurasi’s 2012 campaign was riddled with a strained left hip flexor that kept her out most of the season, which is why the Mercury finished with the second-worst record in the league. She only played eight games and had more than 20 points once in those games – scoring 25 points against the Silver Stars.
She was a Turkish Cup winner, won her third gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and was named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year for the third time.
Diana Taurasi averaged 20.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 32.3 minutes per game (32 games played) during the 2013 season. She shot 46% from the floor, 35% from beyond the three-point line, and 85% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 19-15 record.
Her season highs were 34 points (June 14), 9 rebounds (3 times), 11 assists (Aug. 14), 3 steals (June 16), and 5 blocks (Aug. 31). She finished the season with four double-doubles, was named an All-Star for the sixth time in her career and made the All-WNBA First Time for the eighth time in her career.
She was also a EuroLeague champion for the fifth time, a Russian National League champion for the third time, and a Russian Cup winner for the first time.
— The Sports E-cyclopedia (@The_Ecyclopedia) June 11, 2023
Diana Taurasi averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game (33 games) during the 2014 season. She shot 45% from the floor, 37% from long range, and 87% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season 29-4 before winning the WNBA Finals.
Her season highs were 32 points (July 6), 10 rebounds (June 18), 12 assists (June 20), 3 steals (May 18), and 2 blocks (June 15). In addition to winning her third WNBA championship, Taurasi was named Finals MVP, was an All-Star, the All-WNBA First Team, the WNBA Peak Performer, and led the league in assists.
She was also a Russian National League champion for the fourth time in her career, a Russian Cup winner for the second time, and won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
**Diana Taurasi sat out the 2015 season at the request of her Russian team, who paid her handsomely for committing to their team for the year**
Diana Taurasi averaged 17.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.1 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game (33 games played) during the 2016 season. She shot 40% from the field, 35% from beyond the three-point line, and 91% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 16-18 record.
Her season highs were 32 points (May 18), 7 rebounds (twice), 9 assists (May 31), 3 steals (twice), and 1 block (four times). She scored at least 20 points on 11 occasions, was named to the All-WNBA Second Team for the second time in her career, and was named a member of the WNBA 20th Anniversary Team.
She was also a EuroLeague champion for the sixth time in her career, a Russian National League champion for the sixth time in her career, won her fourth gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and was named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year for the fourth time.
Diana Taurasi averaged 17.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game (31 games played) during the 2017 season. She shot 40% from the floor, 38% from beyond the three-point line, and 91% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with an 18-16 record.
Her season highs were 37 points (June 1), 6 rebounds (five times), 7 rebounds (Aug. 10), 2 steals (three times), and 3 blocks (Aug. 10). She scored at least 20 points in nine games, was named an All-Star for the eighth time in her career, and named to the All-WNBA Second Team for the third time in her career.
She was also a Russian National League champion for the seventh time in her career and was a Russian Cup winner for the third time in her career.
14. 2018 Season
BleacherReport: Happy 39th birthday to Diana Taurasi 🐐
Diana Taurasi averaged 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game (33 games played) during the 2018 season. She shot 45% from the floor, 38% from beyond the three-point line, and 93% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 20-14 record.
Her season highs were 37 points (Aug. 1), 8 rebounds (July 15), 14 assists (twice), 3 steals (twice), and 2 blocks (June 22). She scored at least 20 points on 20 occasions, was named an All-Star for the ninth time in her career, and was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the 10th time in her career. She also won a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Championship in Spain.
Diana Taurasi averaged 4.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game (6 games played) during the 2019 season. She shot 10% from the floor, 0.4% from beyond the three-point line, and 94% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 15-19 record.
Taurasi started the 2019 season recovering from back surgery in the offseason, but the injuries continued once she returned. A hamstring injury kept her out most of the season (she only played in six games). Despite being 37 years old, she committed to returning the following year instead of calling it quits.
Diana Taurasi averaged 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game (19 games played) during the 2020 season. She shot 41% from the floor, 37% from beyond the three-point line, and 91% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 13-9 record.
Her season highs were 34 points (Aug. 23), 12 rebounds (Aug. 30), 10 assists (July 31), 4 steals (July 29), and 2 blocks (three times). She scored at least 20 points in 8 of the 19 games she played in and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team for the fourth time in her career. She also won her fifth gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Diana Taurasi averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 28.4 minutes per game (16 games played) during the 2021 season. She shot 37% from the floor, 34% from beyond the three-point line, and 86% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 19-13 record.
Her season highs were 25 points (June 27), 10 rebounds (Aug. 21), 9 assists (Aug. 25), 1 steal (three times), and 3 blocks (May 14) – she only played half the season due to a chest and ankle injury. Despite that, she was named an All-Star for the 10th time in her career and was named to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team.
18. 2022 Season
The Phoenix Mercury and G Diana Taurasi have agreed to a multiyear contract. #WNBA
Taurasi signed for two years, $469,872 (supermax contract). She’s under contract through her 42nd birthday and the next Olympics in Paris 2024 pic.twitter.com/N4EGFOyv1J
Diana Taurasi averaged 16.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 31.0 minutes per game (31 games played) during the 2022 season. She shot 37% from the floor, 34% from beyond the three-point line, and 89% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 15-21 record.
Her season highs were 32 points (June 3), 7 rebounds (three times), 9 assists (May 6), 3 steals (July 22), and 2 blocks (four times) – she remained healthy and only missed five of the team’s 36 games). This was the season that Brittney Griner spent in Russian detainment, which is why the Mercury struggled.
— Hot Sauce the Podcast🎙️ (@hotsaucepodcast) June 11, 2015
Diana Taurasi averaged 16.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game (26 games played) during the 2023 season. She shot 40% from the floor, 34% from beyond the three-point line, and 85% from the charity stripe. The Mercury finished the season with a 9-31 record.
Her season highs were 42 points (August 3), 7 rebounds (May 19), 10 assists (May 25), 2 steals (twice), and 2 blocks (twice) – she missed seven of the team’s final eight games due to a toe injury and battled other injuries earlier in the year. Still, she became the first WNBA player to score 10,000 career points.
What Can We Expect From Diana Taurasi in 2024?
Diana Taurasi might be entering her 20th season in the WNBA next year, but don’t let that fool you – she still plays with the type of passion and energy that you typically only see in rookies. And while she hasn’t averaged 20 points per game since the 2018 season, she still scores a consistent 16 points per game.
With that said, I wouldn’t expect her to play a full season – she has only played in a total of 98 out of a possible 164 games since 2019. She has also only averaged 30+ minutes per game once over the past five seasons – seeing that number dip to a career-low 27.8 minutes per game during the 2023 season.
If she can stay somewhat healthy, expect her to average around 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. She’ll likely be surrounded by some young talent next year, considering the Phoenix Mercury finished with the worst record in the league last season. Don’t worry, Brittney Griner should be back too!
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