Diana Taurasi, playing in her 20th WNBA season, didn’t officially announce her retirement Thursday night after the Phoenix Mercury’s regular season finale against the Seattle Storm. But the Mercury icon hinted the end may be imminent as she addressed the home crowd.
“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said as the crowd chanted, “one more year.”
“I love you guys.”
Taurasi played 18 minutes Thursday as the Mercury lost 89-70 to the Storm, where she scored nine points and tallied one rebound and two assists. With 3:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, fans at the Footprint Center got on their feet, urging Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts to sub Taurasi back into the game. The first-year coach obliged. Taurasi checked back into the game where she blew a kiss and clapped to the crowd, who showered her with cheers.
It was a 10-second curtain call for the Mercury fans to show their appreciation for a historic player in potentially her final home game. As Taurasi left the court, fans chanted, “One more year.”
Diana Taurasi checks back in and the crowd is lovin’ every second of it 🥹
SEA-PHX | League Pass 📱 pic.twitter.com/MIaFPkvB0g
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2024
When the game ended, the lights dimmed in the seating areas as the spotlight…
