When you’re someone whose name is as legendary in your sport as Diana Taurasi’s is in basketball, etching your name in the history books is just something that comes with the territory.
Taurasi has done it on every level of play possible. She’s proved herself and more everywhere she’s gone, from her many accolades in high school and college, to her WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, her three WNBA championships, her league MVP nod, her two WNBA Finals MVPs, her four Olympic golds, and her three FIBA World Cups, she’s done it all and done it better than anyone else.
While people will argue that her and Sue Bird are both on the same level of GOAT-ness, Bird has made it clear on more than one occasion that she stands on the Taurasi side of the GOAT argument.
Whatever the case, Taurasi has been the WNBA’s all-time leading point-getter since June 18, 2017, when she passed Tina Thompson to solidify herself in the top spot. While history is just another day for Diana Taurasi, this most recent one is special: in the Mercury’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks Sunday, Taurasi became the first player in league history to notch 9,000 points.
Always one to be humble and set her sights on the next marker, Diana had this to say after the game.
"Yeah, it's cool. It's just another record that hopefully will be broken by someone who loves basketball, who dedicates her whole life. So, I think today was nice to do it in front of the home crowd of the first game when we have full capacity and to get it in a win. So, there was a lot of positives of getting it today. And, you know, it's good. I guess I'll be happy if I get to 10,000. "That's when I'll really be happy and celebrate; I might even throw myself a party. But 9,000, I just feel like there's a lot of work to be done."
She said it, and that’s the GOAT mentality that’s gotten her this far!
Congrats to Diana on her latest incredible feat.
