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 Mercury and widely viewed as one of basketball’s greatest talents and personalities, disclosed to Time that she had launched her last jump shot, talked her last trash. She was retiring from the sport she had played for most of her life.
What that meant, however, was taking shape. And still is.
“That was the longest four-hour plane ride to New York ever — just thinking about if it’s sad,” Taurasi said at a retirement news conference Thursday.
Shortly after arriving at the organization’s practice facility, Taurasi said her decision hadn’t seemed real until she entered the building and saw everyone gathered for the occasion. She hadn’t been there since Phoenix’s last pregame shootaround in September. Memories flooded her mind.
A sports retirement news conference is unique. It might be the most emotional moment of a superstar’s career: a time to reflect, a time to thank everyone, a time to say goodbye to the driving force of greatness.
Nearly a year ago, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce announced his retirement. Wearing a black muscle shirt, the 13-year NFL…
