In the world of basketball, Diana Taurasi is a legend, and on Thursday night, the “White Mamba” added yet another significant accomplishment to her long WNBA career.
When the 41-year-old made a deep 3-pointer in the third quarter of a game versus the Atlanta Dream, she became the first player in WNBA history to reach the milestone of 10,000 points. In Phoenix’s 91-71 triumph, she scored a season-high 42 points, bringing her total to 10,024.
Taurasi has stated that she has always been concerned more about winning than accomplishments and records, like the majority of the greats in any sport.
Taurasi declared, “I really don’t think about the number, I really don’t,” following her 29 points in Tuesday night’s one-point loss to Indiana. I’ve always maintained that I only played basketball because I enjoy it. Literally, the only reason I continue going to the gym is that I still enjoy playing, and this group still comes in every day.
Despite showing up, the team is unsuccessful. Taurasi has been focused on attempting to turn around a losing season for the only WNBA team she has ever played for, but the impending milestone cannot be overlooked.
With 10,000 points, Taurasi outscored Tina Thompson, who finished in second place, by more than 2,500. Taurasi, who has a career scoring average of 19.1, had her first solid opportunity to reach the milestone Thursday night with Atlanta, and she nailed it.
“I want to send Diana my sincere congratulations on achieving the incredible milestone of 10,000 points while she continues to write new chapters in an illustrious WNBA career,” I said on behalf of the WNBA & basketball fans worldwide. In a statement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.
“Diana’s success is a credit to her talent, tenacity, and unrelenting devotion to the sport, which, together with her competitive character, has enthralled fans with her amazing scoring prowess, clutch performances, and unmatched basketball intelligence. We feel privileged to be present for this achievement.
The next nearest active player on the list is DeWanna Bonner. The Connecticut Sun forward, who is almost 36 years old, is 3,300 points behind Taurasi.
In Phoenix for the first 10 years of her career, Taurasi and Bonner played together. “What she’s been able to accomplish for such an extended period of time has been truly incredible,” said Bonner. “I have personally witnessed how incredibly hard she works and what she has accomplished.”
Jewell Loyd, the current WNBA scoring leader, had 4,458 points over the course of a nine-year career. If she scored 20 points a game, it would take her 277 more games to reach the 10,000-point plateau. Despite the fact that the league has increased the number of games it plays each year to 40, Loyd doesn’t believe she would play for enough time to accumulate that many points.
Taurasi doesn’t recall many of her scores, but the contest in which she beat Thompson’s record in 2017 will always hold a special place in her heart because it took place in her native Los Angeles and the late Kobe Bryant was present. With a layup, Taurasi shattered Thompson’s mark, and Bryant later called her “White Mamba” as a play on his nickname “Black Mamba.”
“I remember that due to where it was as well as who was there,” said Taurasi. “I’m way over 10,000 if you add up all the points I’ve earned abroad over the years.”
The significance of scoring her 10,000th WNBA point in front of a cheering home crowd at the Footprint Center is not lost on Taurasi.
“When it happens, it will be a cool time for our city, for our franchise,” she remarked. “Really for everyone who has stood by me for a very long time.”
Since she was selected first overall in the 2004 draft out of UConn, Taurasi has been the backbone of the Phoenix organization. She not only holds the record for the most points scored in a career during the regular season, but also throughout the postseason. For the Mercury, she has won three WNBA championships and twice been named MVP of the Finals.
Nikki Blue, the interim Mercury coach, remarked, “We are getting to see greatness right in front of us.” “You take DT’s skill for granted. her behavior for the previous 19 years. It’s quite great to be here to observe her in this situation. I hope everyone tunes in and enjoys the occasion. For a number of years, she has served as the face of our league and organization.