Is Diana Taurasi retiring? Mercury continue to hint at WNBA legend's last game with 'If this is it' campaign

Kyle Irving

•
Is Diana Taurasi retiring? Mercury continue to hint at WNBA legend's last game with 'If this is it' campaign image

WNBA star Diana Taurasi did not officially announce her retirement, but the Mercury have teased the possibility.

The 2024 WNBA season came to a close on Thursday, Sept. 19. And even though Taurasi has not had any confirmation on calling it a career, the Mercury's social media team was running a promotion hinting that it could be her final home game.

Phoenix qualified for the playoffs, locking up the No. 7 seed and a first-round date with the No. 2 Lynx. Since the first two games of the best-of-three series were in Minnesota, there was a chance Taurasi's regular season finale was the Mercury's last home game of the year.

And that ended up being the case after the Lynx pulled off a two-game sweep of the Mercury.

Will Taurasi's playoff loss be the last we see of her on a WNBA court? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.

MORE: WNBA playoff bracket, schedule

Is Diana Taurasi retiring?

Taurasi has not officially announced her retirement, but the Mercury social media team was certainly preparing itself for her departure.

They have been running an "If this is it" campaign for weeks, imploring fans to come and watch Taurasi one last time in case she does hang 'em up after the 2024 season.

They also released special edition "GOAT" jerseys, sold exclusively in the team shop for the final regular-season home game against the Storm.

Taurasi answered questions about the social media posts ahead of that game, claiming she genuinely still has not decided on her future.

“As an athlete, you think you get to write the ending, but then it just happens sometimes,” Taurasi told AZCentral's Jenna Ortiz.

“I’m just really focused on what’s tomorrow, what this team needs to do to make a playoff push. We have it in us, so all my energy and all my attention is towards that and making sure we’re on track.

Taurasi dove a little deeper into her thought process on the subject.

“I don’t know. The last couple of weeks have been a little nerve-wracking for myself,” Taurasi said.

“I don’t want to make any emotional or rash decisions. I know the end is near. When that is, I don’t know. I’ve always been a person that just concentrates on what is next. That’s practice and then Seattle on Thursday.

"When the season is over, I’ll reflect and get advice from the people that are close to my heart and been with me since Day 1. You never know, but who knows.”

After the Mercury lost to the Lynx, Minnesota's crowd gave Taurasi a standing ovation just in case it was her final goodbye.

Nike Basketball also honored the GOAT with her own ad, writing, "D, if this is the last time, it was once in a lifetime."

Diana Taurasi career stats

Taurasi is widely considered to be one of — if not, the — greatest WNBA player of all time.

She is the league's all-time leading scorer with 10,637 points and counting. She also holds the record for most field goals, 3-pointers, and free throws, while ranking second to Sue Bird in games played and minutes played.

Taurasi's stats don't just stop in the regular season, either. She is the WNBA's all-time playoff leader in points, field goals and 3-pointers.

You can find Taurasi's career averages below.

Games Played565
MPG30.7
PPG18.8
RPG3.9
APG4.2
SPG0.9
BPG0.6
TOV2.7
3FG2.6
FG%42.5
3P%36.0
FT%87.0

Diana Taurasi WNBA accolades

Taurasi has played all 20 seasons with the Mercury, winning three WNBA titles, two WNBA Finals MVPs, and one regular season MVP.

She made 14 All-WNBA teams and 11 All-Star teams, won Rookie of the Year in 2004, and was nominated as a member of the WNBA's Top 15, Top 20, and Top 25 players of all-time list.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.