NFL
By: Nick Andre
It’s the end of an era for Women’s Basketball. After 2 decades of greatness, fans are saying goodbye to a legend. Diana Taurasi is retiring from the WNBA. As Taurasi is beloved by many, in many people’s eyes she is going down as the greatest in WNBA History.
I must say that I disagree with the narrative. It’s not because Taurasi isn’t great. When it comes to being labeled the “GOAT” of a sport, I have different criteria when it comes to that label. However, what has always impressed me about Taurasi is her passion for greatness. She’s an elite competitor who loved the game of basketball and wanted to achieve greatness.
That mentality is what made Diana Taurasi a winner. It all dates back to her college career at UConn, where she won three national championships. UConn already built a winning formula thanks to players like Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and several others. Taurasi took that formula and led the Huskies to more success. During her run, Taurasi also won three NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Awards as well as winning National Player of the Year twice.
Taurasi later took that winning mentality to the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury. Before her arrival, the team hadn’t been relevant since their run to the WNBA Finals in 1998. Just one player was able to change the landscape of the franchise and make it a household name. Taurasi didn’t waste any time making an impact in Phoenix. She won her first championship in 2007 while also winning one in 2009 and 2014.
During her championship run, Taurasi was without question the best player on the planet. Her drive to win always led her to one legendary performance after another. Also, Phoenix’s runs to the WNBA Championships were not easy. They had to overcome teams like the Seattle Storm, Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever, and others on their road to a title.
As we look back at Taurasi’s career, there are so many moments to discuss. For instance, she broke the record for most points scored in WNBA History in 2017. She also scored a career-high 47 points in 2006. Every season there was a new milestone for Taurasi. As fans watched her career, the question is what gave her longevity to sustain her level of greatness.
As I mentioned earlier, Taurasi played with passion. This was a player who loved basketball and always wanted to compete on a nightly basis. Passion is what determines greatness. It leads to setting goals for yourself and making sure to achieve them year in and year out. Taurasi made sure to do that which separated her from her WNBA peers.
With greatness comes discipline as well. It’s the ability to remain focused even when there can be distractions. What gave Taurasi longevity was taking care of her body and mind and always staying prepared to play. Surely, playing in your 40s is not an easy task. But Taurasi made it look easy with the way she remained disciplined in preparing for games.
Diana Taurasi left her mark on Women’s Basketball. She made players believe in their work and be rewarded for it in the future. Taurasi’s retirement will certainly leave an open wound in the women’s basketball world. However, she gave the game everything she could and her accolades speak for themselves.
