For over half a decade, Diana Taurasi has been the WNBA all-time leading scorer. Spending all of her 19 years in the league with the Phoenix Mercury, Taurasi needed 18 points on Thursday to hit the 10,000 mark.
With 8:23 remaining in the third quarter against the Atlanta Dream, Taurasi drilled a 3-pointer from way downtown to hit the milestone and continued on to score a further 24 points, eventually scoring a season-high 42, the most in a regulation game in Mercury history, and her first 40-pointer since July 2010.
The Mercury celebrated Taurasi pre-game, with a petting zoo, filled fittingly with goats, and a post-game celebration with tribute videos from sporting legends such as NBA commissioner Adam Silver, tennis legend Billie Jean King and USC head coach Dawn Staley.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said of the milestone, âDianaâs achievement stands as a testament to her skill, determination, and unwavering dedication to the game, which along with her competitive nature, has captivated fans with her incredible scoring ability, clutch performances, and unparalleled basketball IQ. We are honored to witness this milestone,â
Taurasi is on a two-year contract that runs through the end of the 2024 season. With five Olympic gold medals already, she has said she would like to play in a sixth Olympic Games next summer in Paris.
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