Alex Slitz/Getty Images

USA Basketball Reacts To Diana Taurasi's Retirement Decision

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 25, 2025 6:03 PM ET

Basketball legend Diana Taurasi officially announced her retirement after 20 WNBA seasons.

Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, told TIME that she's "definitely retired." Throughout her decorated career, Taurasi won five scoring titles, three WNBA championships, and two Finals MVPs. The 11-time All-Star also set a basketball record by winning six consecutive Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

USA Basketball responded to Taurasi's retirement on social media.

"An American basketball icon," they wrote. "Thank you, Diana."

The WNBA also celebrated one of the league's all-time greats.

"After 20 years of playing in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi is officially retiring," the WNBA wrote. "Thank you Diana for changing the game forever. All of the accolades could never amount to the type of person and edge you embodied when you stepped out there on the court. One-of-One."

Taurasi spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury, who have made 15 playoff appearances in the last 17 years. The guard led the organization to its first of three titles in 2007.

"She didn't just wear the jersey – she built our franchise," the Mercury said. "She played the game, then changed it forever. Thank you will never be enough. But it’s a start."

Before going to Phoenix, Taurasi steered UConn to three consecutive national championships. The college program celebrated its former superstar.

"No words needed for her impact on the game," UConn said. "Congrats on an unmatched career, Dee."

Her former Huskies and Team USA coach, Geno Auriemma, told TIME that Taurasi is the greatest of all time.

"Until someone comes along and eclipses what she’s done, then yes, she is," Auriemma said.

Sue Bird, who played alongside Taurasi at UConn and on five gold-medal Team USA squads, also backed her friend for the G.O.A.T. label.

"There are players that have full games," Bird told TIME. "You can talk about Maya Moore in this conversation, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie. You could talk about all these great names. The difference is the way she makes her teammates feel. The way she raises the level of her teams. That, to me, is the separator."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: