WNBA Player: Diana Taurasi, 41, made WNBA history by becoming the first woman to collect 10,000 career points. She accomplished this feat while playing for Phoenix Mercury in their victory against Atlanta Dream on Thursday night.
Taurasi scored his fifth triple of the season with eight minutes and 23 seconds left in the third quarter, giving Phoenix a 51-39 lead.
She shot 12-of-21 from the field, 6-of-13 from three-point range, and 12-of-12 from the foul line to end the game with 42 points, her greatest single-game total since 2010.
The Mercury won 91-71 as the 41-year-old Taurasi recorded the oldest 40-point performance in WNBA history.
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Taurasi told ESPN, “I simply felt at ease as they searched for me. Additionally, sometimes (the shots) are given only because it is your day. And this evening was mine.”
Taurasi needed 18 points to create history before the game started, but by halftime, she had 10 points. She made a layup in a flash and a three-pointer not long after. She accepted a pass from Moriah Jefferson on the Mercury’s following possession, and she sank the crucial three.
In a statement, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said: “I want to send my sincere congratulations to Diana on attaining the great milestone of 10,000 points as she continues to write new chapters in a historic WNBA career. I speak for the WNBA and basketball fans everywhere. In my capacity as a fan and now as WNBA Commissioner, I have enjoyed watching her play.
“Diana’s success is a credit to her talent, tenacity, and unrelenting devotion to the sport, which, together with her competitive character, has enthralled spectators with her amazing scoring prowess, clutch performances, and unmatched basketball intelligence. We feel honoured to be there to see this achievement.
Phoenix selected Taurasi first overall in the 2004 draught. She has won three WNBA championships, been named the league’s regular-season MVP twice, and won the WNBA Finals MVP once. She has been selected to the first team of the All-WNBA 10 times.
Taurasi is one of the most accomplished basketball Olympians of all time, having won five gold medals with Team USA in addition to her WNBA accomplishments.
Taurasi began to play on Thursday with averages of 16.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds in her 19th WNBA player season.
