Diana Taurasi 'sad' to walk away from basketball, Phoenix Mercury. What's next?
PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi has spent the past two weeks processing her retirement following a legendary 20-year career with the Phoenix Mercury. Her two young children, Leo and Isla, are also wondering what that means.
"We got on a plane to New York (last week) and Leo says, 'Is retirement sad?'" Taurasi recalled during her retirement press conference on Thursday. "That was the longest four-hour plane ride to New York ever, just thinking."
Taurasi announced her retirement from basketball on Feb. 25, stepping away as a three-time WNBA champion and the WNBA's all-time leading scorer. Although the 11-time WNBA All-Star said she's content with her decision to retire, Taurasi also said she's actively grieving the end of her illustrious career.
"It is sad," Taurasi admitted. "I don’t show it. I don’t like to outwardly show my sadness, but I am sad. It’s the game that I've played since I was seven. It’s all the things in life that I always loved to do."
DIANA TAURASI retires after 20 seasons with Phoenix Mercury
BY THE NUMBERS:Where Diana Taurasi ranks among all-time greats
Taurasi, 42, opted out of a drawn-out farewell tour during her final season. Her retirement press conference was fittingly held on the Diana Taurasi Courts at the Mercury's practice facility.
Friends and family, including Taurasi's wife, Penny Taylor, and their two children, gathered for her final farewell in matching orange shirts adorned with Taurasi's iconic logo. The gravity of her retirement started to sink in.
"I made the announcement last week, but I don’t think it’s felt real until just now," Taurasi said. "All the great memories that I’ve had here for 20 years have been overwhelming."
Diana Taurasi: 'I knew I didn't have it in me'
Taurasi played her final game for the Mercury on Sept. 25 — Phoenix lost to the Minnesota Lynx 101-88 in the first round of the playoffs. She didn't comment on whether she would return at the time and left many fans wondering “if this is it," the exact verbiage the Mercury used to advertise the team's final regular-season home games.
Taurasi said she didn't know what the future held, but her decision became clear as the new year approached.
"After the (2024) season ended, I really wanted to take some time away and really think about what I wanted to do," Taurasi said. "I know the work that goes into preparing for a season. Once January 1st kind of came and went ... I knew in my heart that I didn’t have it in me to put that four-month preparation that I usually do going into a season. I just didn’t have that anymore and I was fine with that."
Taurasi was drafted by the Mercury with the first overall pick of the 2004 WNBA draft after leading the UConn Huskies to three NCAA championships (2002–2004). She spent her entire career in Phoenix, which Taurasi called her biggest accomplishment, even more than her six Olympic gold medals.
"Out of all the things in my career — the check-list goes on and on — being in this city for 20 years to me is the one thing that is the most important thing in the world," she said. "Championships, points, all those things will be broken — hopefully not soon. The character and the loyalty you show every single day, that’s what people care about and remember. If I did that in a way that can transcend the way people look at, not only women’s basketball, but women’s sports, how we give up our life and sacrifice everything for the thing we love the most. For me, that was basketball forever.”
What's next for Diana Taurasi?
"I really don't know," she admitted.
Although she's unsure of her next act, whether she gets into broadcasting or podcasting, like her good friend Sue Bird, Taurasi said she's excited to fully immerse herself into her family after having tunnel vision for so long.
"I’ve been so addicted to the game of basketball for the last 30 years. It’s all I thought about. It’s all I prepared for," she said. "The last couple weeks, I’ve really understood what it really means to be home and be present. You know, I was home before, but my mind was always thinking about the next game. ... Now it’s Leo and Isla and being present for Penny and my family and friends that would always make sure I was OK. Now it’s my turn to repay all that to them."
Don't rule out a return just yet. When Taurasi first walked into the Mercury's practice facility for the first time since the season ended, she told GM Nick U’Ren, "I want to play again."
But not so fast.
"I’m sure I’ll have those feelings a lot, but I am so happy where I’m at right now personally," Taurasi said. "Now, I get to really reflect on what 20 years felt like and the things that I was lucky enough to be a part of.”
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diana Taurasi press conference: Why WNBA legend decided to retire
-
Diana Taurasi and the challenge of saying goodbye and discovering what’s next
PHOENIX — As Diana Taurasi recently boarded a flight to New York, her 7-year-old son, Leo, had a question. “Is retirement sad?” he said. In late February, Taurasi, a 20-year veteran of the Phoenix ...Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Mercury to retire Taurasi's No. 3 jersey in 2026
Diana Taurasi, who will have her No. 3 jersey retired by the Mercury in 2026, admits feeling "sad" over her decision to retire after 20 seasons in the WNBA.ESPN - 10h -
Diana Taurasi offers her version of short-lived idea with Sue Bird to join NY Liberty
Diana Taurasi spoke at her Phoenix Mercury retirement press conference about her and Sue Bird's idea to leave Phoenix Mercury and Storm for Liberty.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Diana Taurasi says goodbye to one of the greatest careers in women's basketball history
Diana Taurasi wanted to take her time before deciding whether to retireABC News - 14h -
Mercury to retire Diana Taurasi's No. 3 jersey, induct her into Ring of Honor during 2026 WNBA season
Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, announced her retirement in FebruaryCBS Sports - 16h -
Haley Cavinder shares cryptic Instagram post about basketball future
Haley Cavinder seemingly won't play basketball anymore. But what's next?Yahoo Sports - 12h -
What's next for Justin Gaethje and other stars from UFC 313?
What lies ahead for Gaethje, Pereira and other big names from UFC 313?ESPN - 2d -
Karaban, Johnson help UConn men pull away from Villanova for 73-56 win in Big East Tournament quarterfinal
NEW YORK – Alex Karaban and Samson Johnson took over down the stretch as the UConn men’s basketball team pulled away from Villanova for a 73-56 win in the quarterfinal round of the Big East ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Heat C Bam Adebayo fined $50K for making inappropriate contact with official after controversial ending
Adebayo complained a ref walked away from him during a postgame confrontation Friday.Yahoo Sports - 5d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Trafford called up by Three Lions
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.Yahoo Sports - 6m -
Facing Chelsea 'not an easy task' says Cushing
Interim Manchester City manager Nick Cushing admits he is jumping in at the deep end as he prepares to face Chelsea four times in a row.Yahoo Sports - 8m -
Six Nations permutations: How England could win title
France’s stunning win against Ireland in Dublin has blown the Six Nations Championship wide open for the final weekend.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Pick your England XI for World Cup qualifiers
Who would you select to start for England in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Thomas Tuchel's first matches in charge?Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Guerschon Yabusele on his journey: Three years after being drafted, I had no team
Guerschon Yabusele: After China, when I went back to France, I didn’tYahoo Sports - 15m
More in Sports
-
Trafford called up by Three Lions
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.Yahoo Sports - 6m -
Facing Chelsea 'not an easy task' says Cushing
Interim Manchester City manager Nick Cushing admits he is jumping in at the deep end as he prepares to face Chelsea four times in a row.Yahoo Sports - 8m -
Six Nations permutations: How England could win title
France’s stunning win against Ireland in Dublin has blown the Six Nations Championship wide open for the final weekend.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Pick your England XI for World Cup qualifiers
Who would you select to start for England in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Thomas Tuchel's first matches in charge?Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Men's pound-for-pound rankings: Where does Bivol land after win? How about 'Tank' Davis?
A lot of movement in the top 10, including the return of Junto Nakatani, and Dmitry Bivol jumping over Artur Beterbiev. Here are the latest ESPN P4P rankings.ESPN - 14m