Diana Taurasi is a professional player in the Women’s National Basketball Association. She plays for Phoenix Mercury. The team selected her second overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She has accumulated seven thousand points in her career and six seasons of 600 or higher points. You can read on for more information about Taurasi and the similarities she shares with Michael Jordan.
7,000 career-points
Diana Taurasi is faster than any other player at the WNBA to cross the 7,000 mark. Taurasi averaged 19.3 goals per game during her career, more points than any other player in WNBA. She is 482 point shy of Tina Thompson’s all-time WNBA scoring mark. But she could surpass Thompson as early as this year.
This is her latest achievement after a season that was plagued by injuries. Taurasi missed eight games of the 2012-2013 season because she injured her hip flexor. She was able to return to action in the WNBA Finals and help the Mercury to their first title since 1997. She was also the seventh player in WNBA lore to win NCAA.
Six consecutive seasons with 600 or more points
Diana Taurasi is a skilled shooter and can take a variety shot. She is capable of hitting fadeaway jumpers from all over the court. She will look for a large area to get the ball and move it towards the basket side of the body. She bends forward to make more space and then hits her fadeaway jumper. Diana will shoot the jumper if there isn’t enough space.
Diana Taurasi is also known for her great passing skills. She is also the Phoenix Mercury's leading scorer. She also leads the league with assists. She was also the first player to be awarded the double-double for scoring and assists in 2015. She is the first player to ever win both the assists and scoring titles in WNBA history.
Similarity with Michael Jordan
It is essential to note the similarities and distinctions between Michael Jordan and Diana Taurasi when comparing them. The two are considered the greatest basketball players of all time, but what made them similar in their careers? One of the most striking similarities is the competitive spirit. Both players are motivated to succeed. Their desire to win drives them to greatness.
Diana Taurasi's competitive streak dates back to two decades. She participated in a HORSE contest with Michael Jordan in the early 1990s and missed a free throw. To win a pair Jordan sneakers, she had make that free throw. Jordan did not give her 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 WNBA's alltime leading scorer was still one game away from her WNBA championship title. But her absence could be disastrous for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA announced that they have signed Yvonne Turner on a hardship agreement to fill Taurasi’s spot on their roster.
Taurasi only participated in six regular-season games this season. She missed the first nine due to a back injury and hamstring strain. She returned to play in three games, but then suffered another injury. She was unable to score again, which resulted in a single digit scoring total.
Impact she has had on Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury's impact on Diana Taurasi is amazing. Despite turning 40 years old on Saturday, she lead the Mercury to a 90-88 victory over the Atlanta Dream. She tied a season best with 32 points, six 3-pointers and tied a season low on her 40th birthday. With 16.1 points per match, she is currently the second highest scorer on the team.
Walker and Peddy play important roles on the team. However, Taurasi has emerged as a crucial part of their offense. The All-Star is six points short of the 9,000-point plateau. Through her first four games, she averaged a team record 26% usage rate. This is remarkable for a player of her calibre. Walker and Peddy will get the extra minutes.