Diana Taurasi Eyes Mercury Ownership: Legend’s Next Power Move
Diana Taurasi: From Basketball Legend to Future Team Owner
The Big News: A Living Legend Gets Her Due
Important Point: Diana Taurasi—the greatest scorer in WNBA history—is having her jersey retired by the Phoenix Mercury this Sunday. But she’s not walking away from basketball entirely. She wants to become an owner of the team!
Imagine playing a game so well for so long that:
- No one else can ever wear your number again
- A street gets renamed after you (with your exact point total!)
- An outdoor court gets painted in your honor
- You’re headed to two different Halls of Fame
That’s exactly what’s happening to Diana Taurasi right now in Phoenix, Arizona.
What’s Happening This Weekend?
The Mercury are throwing a three-day celebration for their superstar:
1. Thursday — A Special Street Sign
The city unveiled "10646 Taurasi Way" outside the Mercury’s arena. That number? It’s her career point total—the most in WNBA history. Fun fact: They first honored her in 2017 when she hit 7,489 points. She kept scoring!
2. Friday — Her Very Own Court
A ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicated an outdoor court named "Diana Taurasi Court." It’s painted purple with a giant "3" and a GOAT logo (that means Greatest Of All Time).
3. Sunday — The Main Event
At halftime of the Mercury vs. Portland Fire game:
- Her No. 3 jersey goes up to the rafters forever
- She enters the Mercury Ring of Honor
- A postgame ceremony caps it all off
Diana’s Incredible Resume (AKA Her "Legacy")
What She Did: Diana didn’t just play basketball—she dominated it at every level for two decades.
WNBA Career (20 seasons, all with Phoenix Mercury)
- 3 Championships (2007, 2009, 2014)
- 6 Olympic Gold Medals (most in basketball history!)
- 1 WNBA MVP (2009)
- 2 WNBA Finals MVPs
- 11 All-Star appearances
- 10 All-WNBA First Team selections
- All-time leading scorer (10,646 points)
Overseas Career (12 years in Europe)
- 6 EuroLeague titles
- 7 Russian National League titles
- 3 Russian Cups
- 1 Turkish League title + 1 Turkish Cup
Diana’s Take: "Those 12 years really are 24 years of WNBA play because the eight months [overseas season]. So, I take that as serious."
College (UConn)
- 3 National Championships (2002, 2003, 2004)
She Almost Left Phoenix… Multiple Times
Honest Moment: Even legends have doubts.
Diana admitted there were "breaking points" where she nearly left:
- After winning 3 titles in her first 10 years, she expected more
- The team went through rough patches
- She thought: "The writing’s on the wall. I might need a new start."
But she stayed. And she’s glad she did.
Diana’s Words: "You had to be there through the ups and the downs, and it made the ups so much sweeter. Some of my favorite memories were on teams that didn’t win a championship because there was that internal struggle and grit…"
What’s Next? Team Owner Diana Taurasi
Her Goal: Join the Mercury ownership group within 1-2 years.
Diana Says: "Ownership is always something that’s always been on my mind… When I do it, I want to be around because I want to have an influence on where this franchise goes. And obviously being in Phoenix would be the goal."
She doesn’t want to be a silent investor—she wants to help shape the team’s future.
Life After Retirement: "A Weight Off My Shoulders"
Diana retired after the 2024 season. Here’s what she discovered:
| During Career | After Retirement |
|---|---|
| Constant stress & anxiety | "Weight off my shoulders" |
| Obsessed with being on court | "Better than I thought" |
| Couldn’t watch others without criticizing | Now watches with "grace and appreciation" |
| Had to win at all costs | Sees the bigger picture |
Diana’s Insight: "I didn’t realize how stressed and anxious I was… because my obsession with being on the court dominated my mind and priorities."
She also has a new perspective on the WNBA today:
- The game is better than ever — "free flowing," players showing skill
- Arena are packed, games on TV, people talking about it
- Two ways to view it: Focus on chaos/toxicity OR focus on growth/visibility
- She chooses the positive view
Two More Hall of Fames Coming Her Way
The honors aren’t stopping:
- Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Eligible after this WNBA season
- Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame — Eligible after 2027 season
Diana’s Reaction: "I didn’t start playing basketball because I wanted all these things. If you ask anyone, I’d just rather them put it up and, I don’t know, go have dinner."
Summary: Why Diana Taurasi Matters
| What She Did | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Stayed 20 years with one team | Rare loyalty in modern sports |
| Won at every level (college, WNBA, Olympics, overseas) | Proves greatness isn’t a fluke |
| Became all-time leading scorer | Set the bar for everyone after her |
| Speaks honestly about pressure/mental health | Helps other athletes feel less alone |
| Wants to become an owner | Shows commitment to growing the game |
| Redefines "legacy" as actions, not words | A lesson for all of us |
The bottom line: Diana Taurasi didn’t chase awards. She chased excellence every single day. The awards just followed.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
How many points did Diana Taurasi score in her WNBA career?
10,646 points — the most in league history. That’s why the street sign says "10646 Taurasi Way"!
Did she play for any team besides the Phoenix Mercury?
In the WNBA? No — all 20 seasons in Phoenix. But she played 12 years overseas in Russia and Turkey during WNBA offseasons, winning tons of championships there too.
What does "jersey retirement" mean?
It means no Mercury player will ever wear No. 3 again. The jersey gets hung from the arena rafters forever as a permanent honor.
How many Olympic gold medals does she have?
Six — the most of any basketball player (male or female) in Olympic history. She won in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.
When can she officially become a team owner?
She hopes to join the ownership group within the next 1-2 years. She wants to be hands-on and help guide the franchise’s future.
Final Thought
Diana’s Definition of Legacy: "Your legacy is what you actually do. It’s not what you say. Legacy is what do you do throughout your life without even knowing that someone can look at and is inspired by it, can take something from it."
Diana Taurasi didn’t just talk about greatness. She showed up, stayed, grinded, and won — for 20 years straight. Now she gets to watch her number hang forever… while planning her next chapter as an owner.
Not bad for a kid from Chino, California who just wanted to play basketball.