Diana Taurasi, the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history and a six-time Olympic gold medalist, has officially announced her retirement. Usually, she kicks off her season preparations on January 1, giving herself four months of hard work before training camp. But this New Year's Day felt different.
In her exclusive conversation with TIME, she explained, "I just didn't have it in me." That moment made her realize it was time to hang up her sneakers.
The Unstoppable Journey of an Icon
Taurasi's career reads like a highlight reel. She shattered scoring records over 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury and racked up nearly 10,646 regular-season points. Beyond the WNBA, she added three championships, countless three-pointers, and even a stellar overseas career that brought home Euroleague titles and numerous MVP awards.
Legends like Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird, and even LeBron James have all praised her, noting that her impact goes far beyond statistics. Her resume is undeniable, and her legacy as a powerhouse in women's basketball is firmly cemented.
What Makes Diana So Special
What sets Diana apart is not just her on-court brilliance but also her larger-than-life personality. From her fearless moves and swagger to her playful yet intense competitiveness, she made every game an event. Taurasi's style was always fun to watch, whether it was a slick no-look pass or a memorable spin move. Her journey started in Los Angeles and Chino, California, where even as a kid, she used bullhorns and makeshift hoops to fuel her love for the game. Her story is relatable to anyone who's ever chased a dream with passion and grit.
Taurasi, daughter to Argentinian and Italian immigrants, told HOLA! USA in June 2024, she got everything from her parents. "My dad. He's an immigrant from Italy. Move to Argentina. From Argentina to the US. My mom is from Argentina. So, we came to the United States with nothing," the athlete revealed. "All they knew was how to work. And I take that every single day with me. That hustle of making sure you provide for your family. You do the work daily; you don't take anything for granted."
"I learned all those things from my mom and dad and from how we grew up in our households, and it was always pretty neat because we'd be in our house, and it felt like we were in Argentina, and I would leave the house, and I'd be like, what country am I in now? So I got to experience that every single day, and it made me the person I am today."
Legacy and Impact on Women's Basketball
Taurasi leaves the game on a high note, having helped shape the WNBA into what it is today. Her excellence on the court inspired fans and paved the way for future generations of players. As she put it in that heartfelt TIME interview, "Mentally and physically, I'm just full. That's probably the best way I can describe it. I'm full and I'm happy."
Her retirement marks the end of an era but also celebrates a career that made the league stronger and the sport more inclusive.
While speaking to HOLA! USA, Diana touched base on WNBA's rising popularity. "We're in an amazing place right now when it comes to the WNBA. We're at a cross-section of so many things with social media. Obviously, on the basketball side, it's just been an amazing thing to be a part of for so long, see it come to this point, and really delight the people who came before us," she told our publication.
"When you look at the future, you have to know the history of the sport and all the women who have given up and sacrificed a lot of their time and their families when the sport wasn't where it is now."
"So I think it's just such an interesting place that we're in the future's bright, the talent is bright, and hopefully, just continues this momentum of a lot of great moments," she assured.
Diana Taurasi's legacy is not just about the records she set or the trophies she won; it's about how she played the game and the lives she touched along the way.