WNBA legend Diana Taurasi has finally decided to hang her boots after helping global women’s basketball to the next level.
She is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history with 10,646 points in the regular season and a six-time Olympic gold medalist. She also holds the record for the highest three-pointers in the WNBA. She has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game.
In an exclusive interview with TIME, she announced her retirement from basketball. “Mentally and physically, I’m just full,” she said. “That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”
Diana spent a huge chunk of her career (approximately 20 seasons) with the Phoenix Mercury. She also had stints in Russia and Turkey in a 12-year foreign run where she grabbed six EuroLeague titles.
Taurasi has won three WNBA championships and 3 NCAA titles. She was the the 2009 WNBA MVP.
“My scoring record, or the six gold medals, someone’s going to come around that has the same hunger, the same addiction to basketball, and put those records in a different way, a different name,” says Taurasi.
“That’s what sports is all about. That’s going to be fun to watch. Hopefully not soon.”
NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James had only great things to say about the WNBA legend.
“She’s one of the all-time greatest, and she will leave her mark on the game of basketball the moment she ties those shoes up and throws them over the pole line. It’s been an honor. All love.”
