The GOAT of Women’s Basketball Retires

The woman I chose as the GOAT of women’s basketball, Diana Taurasi, announced her retirement on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old WNBA superstar is one of her sports most celebrated figures. She won three WNBA championships and is the league’s all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points, almost 3,000 more than second-place Tina Charles. In her legendary career, Taurasi has been selected for eleven WNBA all-star teams, earned six Olympic gold medals with the US women’s basketball team, and captured six EuroLeague championships and seven Russian league titles. Fans voted her the WNBA’s Greatest of All Time in 2021.

Taurasi also won three NCAA championships in four years at the University of Connecticut, twice earning Player of the Year honors. The Phoenix Mercury, for whom she played her entire 20-year career, selected her as the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft. Through her tireless work ethic, immense talent, competitiveness, and penchant for heroic shots Taurasi helped boost interest in the WNBA.

In explaining why she is retired, Taurasi said, “Mentally and physically, I’m just full. That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”

Accolades have poured in. “Diana Taurasi is one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage,” declared WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “She leaves a lasting legacy and the future of the WNBA is in a great position because of her impact, that will be felt for generations to come.” Her coach at UConn, Geno Auriemma, avowed, “what the greats have in common is, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport. For as long as people talk about college basketball, WNBA basketball, Olympic basketball, Diana is the greatest winner in the history of basketball, period.”

“She is a stone-cold killer, crazy competitor.” Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon declared. Add to this, her skill set and work ethic, and there “are all the makings of a GOAT.”

Mercury president Vince Kozar proclaimed: “Beyond the highlights and the accolades, Diana Taurasi is loyalty personified. She turned a city she’d never visited into her family’s home, and by virtue of her passion and play, turned legions of girls and boys, men and women into lifelong Mercury fans.”

Taurasi also holds the WNBA record for most field goals, three-point shots, and free throws made (hitting 87% of her attempts). She led the league in scoring five times.

Some fans have been touting University of Iowa and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark as the potential GOAT of women’s basketball. Clark could someday surpass Taurasi’s achievements, but considering what Taurasi accomplished in the WBNA, Olympics, and European and Russian leagues, Clark has a long way to go.

For more on Clark, see The Greatest Sports Stars of All-Time: Fifteen Fantastic Athletes: Smith, Gary Scott: 9798882624100: Amazon.com: Books