Diana Taurasi, a professional basketball player with the Women's National Basketball Association, is a pro basketball player. She is a member of the Phoenix Mercury. In 2004, the team selected her as the first overall selection in the WNBA draft. She has reached seven thousand career points and six straight seasons of 600 or more points. Continue reading to find out more about Taurasi's remarkable career and similarities to Michael Jordan.
7,000 career-points
Diana Taurasi has reached the 7,000-point milestone faster than any other player in the WNBA. Taurasi has averaged 19.3 points per game over her career, more than any other player in the league. She is 482 points shy of the all-time WNBA scoring record held by Tina Thompson. Thompson's record could be broken by Thompson in the next year.
Her latest accomplishment comes after an injury-riddled season. Taurasi missed eight games in the 2012-2013 season due to a strained hip flexor. Taurasi was able to play in the WNBA Finals, helping the Mercury win their first title since 1997. She became the seventh player in WNBA History to win the NCAA championship.
Six consecutive seasons with 600+ points or more
Diana Taurasi is a great shooter, with an impressive range of shots. She is capable to hit fadeaway jumping shots from anywhere on the court. She looks for an open space and then gets the ball to her basket side. She then bends over to make space, and hits the fadeaway jumper. Diana will often shoot the jumper at the low post or sideline if there's not enough space.
Diana Taurasi is also famous for her amazing passing skills. She is the Phoenix Mercury's all time leading scorer. She also leads in assists. In 2015, she was the first player ever to achieve the double-double of assists and scoring. She is also the only player in WNBA saga to win both titles in a single season.
Similarity with Michael Jordan
You have to compare Diana Taurasi and Michael Jordan in order to see the similarities and differences. While they are two of the most admired basketball players of all-time, what did their careers have in common? One of the most striking similarities in their careers is their competitive spirit. Both players are motivated to succeed. Their desire to win drives them to greatness.
Diana Taurasi has a competitive streak going back over two decades. She took part in a HORSE Competition with Michael Jordan, but missed a chance to win a pair of Jordan shoes. She had to make that free throw to win a pair of Jordan shoes. Jordan didn't take handouts.
Diana Taurasi: An injury-prone season
Diana Taurasi has been injured to her right quad, which resulted in her not scoring as high as she would like. This means that Diana Taurasi will miss the remainder WNBA seasons. The all-time leading scorer of the WNBA was just one game removed from her WNBA championship, but her absence could spell disaster for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA had announced that they had signed Yvonne Turner under a hardship contract in order to fill Taurasi's place on the roster.
Taurasi missed nine regular season games because of a hamstring injury. She played in three more regular season games after sustaining another injury. This time she was unable for scoring, resulting in a single figure score.
Phoenix Mercury's Impact She had
The impact Diana Taurasi has had on the Phoenix Mercury has been remarkable. She turned 40 this Saturday, but she still led the Mercury in a victory over the Atlanta Dream by leading them to a win of 90-88. On her birthday, she tied a season record with 32 points and six 3-pointers. With 16.1 points per match, she is currently the second highest scorer on the team.
Walker and Peddy both play a role on the team. Taurasi, however, has been a significant part of the team's offense. Six points shy of the 9,000-point plateau, the All-Star is only six short. The average team usage rate for her first four games was 26%, which is quite impressive for a player like her. Walker and Peddy will get the extra minutes.