How do you say goodbye to the GOAT?
Diana Taurasi has retired from professional basketball after 20 seasons within the WNBA, three league championships and greater than 10,000 factors.
What’s left to say in regards to the 2009 WNBA MVP, six-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time league scoring champion and three-time NCAA champion? Loads. ESPN canvassed Taurasi’s mates, teammates, members of the family and former coaches all through the previous 12 months for untold tales — those they might share, no less than.
“There’s lots of loopy tales. They’re both vault-ish or heartwarming, there’s not a lot in between,” mentioned Morgan Valley, Taurasi’s former UConn Huskies teammate and roommate. “She’s considered one of a form.”
Unsurprisingly, lots of the behind-the-scenes tales centered on Taurasi’s ultracompetitive character and sarcastic wit. However the anecdotes make clear all sides of Taurasi, from the fierce chief to the supportive teammate, and from the nurturing mom to the beneficiant mentor.
To cite UConn coach Geno Auriemma, “we obtained Diana” — and you do not overlook a legend like that. Here is a take a look at the Phoenix Mercury star from those that know her finest. — Reporting from Michael Voepel, Alexa Philippou and Josh Weinfuss
Editor’s word: Anecdotes have been edited for brevity and readability.
Illustration by ESPNFirst impressions
Sue Chook, shut buddy, longtime USA Basketball teammate: The minute you meet Diana, there’s an influence. You’re feeling the charisma. The factor that individuals get a little bit twisted is that she would not have heat, as a result of perhaps they watch her play they usually see a competitor, they see any individual spit on the ground, or they see any individual punch one thing. [But] she’s actually so very heat and so very beneficiant.
The primary time I met her was on her UConn recruiting journey. Clearly, this was a giant recruit, so the coaches had been all nervous. She was at Coach Auriemma’s home, and a few us went to choose her up and take her again to campus for her to begin her go to.
I’ve a ’93 Toyota Camry. She will get in and she or he’s like, “Oh, yo, I obtained a CD. Let me put this on.”
We’re being like, “Hey, no matter you need to do,” as a result of it is a recruit. Instantly, she’s simply tremendous comfy. It is lots of West Coast rap, which isn’t unhealthy — that is like a illustration of who she is. It was little combine and we had been all vibing to it. By the top of the automotive journey, she’s like, “You prefer it? Hold the CD.”
She has a approach of constructing individuals really feel related to her, but in addition like the most effective model of themselves. … She simply makes you’re feeling like a thousand bucks.
Auriemma, Taurasi’s coach at UConn and with USA Basketball: [I first met] Diana in Indianapolis on the Nike All-American Camp. They might take the highest 80 [high school] gamers within the nation, [rising] juniors and seniors, and make eight groups. It was the best factor ever invented, since you would watch the very best gamers in America enjoying towards one another.
So we’re watching, and clearly I do know who she is and all that. … So their sport is over, and I am sitting there within the bleachers, and she or he comes strolling over with one other woman. And I am pondering, this isn’t going to look good, and she or he did not give a s—. There’s 400 coaches there, and the most effective participant within the nation simply walked over to Coach Auriemma, and she or he begins speaking to me, which is completely unlawful [an NCAA recruiting violation], proper? You are not purported to have any contact with the gamers.
However what she mentioned was humorous. She goes, “Hey, can I’ve your autograph?” And I mentioned, “Oh, actually?” She goes, “Yeah. Do not get all excited. It isn’t for me. I do not give a s—. It is for a buddy of mine.”
Jessika Taurasi-Skillern, Diana’s sister: I feel individuals see her as a villain. If individuals have by no means met her and all they see is Dee on the TV — yelling and complaining to the refs and stuff — that is simply so not how she is. I’ve by no means heard her complain about something in my life aside from on the basketball courtroom.
Clearly, the competitiveness is on and off the courtroom, however she’s simply obtained the most important coronary heart and she or he’s simply such a humorous individual. I do not assume individuals know she just isn’t an a–hole.
The participant
Sophie Cunningham, Phoenix Mercury teammate: There’s lots of occasions in video games when, if I used to be going towards her, I might hate her. I might completely hate Dee. She’s simply cussed. She’s an a–hole. The best way she performs is bodily. She talks s— like no different.
However then [later], she’s like, “That was type of enjoyable, wasn’t it?”
Tanisha Wright, former WNBA participant: I used to battle with Dee. She likes to joke and chuckle with you on courtroom, however I additionally understood all that was bulls—, simply making an attempt to get beneath your pores and skin, so she will come kill you. So I used to all the time simply hold a stoic face towards her. You chuckle and joke afterward, however throughout the sport, like, “No, I am not providing you with any edge. No, I am not your buddy proper now. I do know you are making an attempt to tear me aside.”
You need to consistently be prepared, it’s a must to be in your toes. As a result of you understand each evening she’s going to carry it. If I did not carry it, I used to be going to be embarrassed. So I respect Dee, as a result of she all the time introduced the most effective out of me enjoying towards her.
Sandy Brondello, Taurasi’s coach in Phoenix and abroad: Everybody talks about our 2018 semifinal collection versus the Seattle Storm. There was one sport, we had been down by so much, and we ran the identical play for Diana two occasions in a row with six seconds left, they usually each labored. However that is what Diana does. Even Sue Chook knew what was coming, however they nonetheless could not cease her. When she’s locked in, when she’s within the zone, it is enjoyable to observe.
Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi received three consecutive titles collectively at UConn from 2002-04. AP Picture/Mike Derer
Auriemma, former USA Basketball coach: We had been enjoying Czechoslovakia in Prague, making an attempt to win a world championship to qualify for the Olympics. It was a very tight sport, as a result of the Czechs, they have been enjoying collectively for 10 years. It is on nationwide tv, the president of the nation’s there. It is loopy. And we could not shake them. We pressed them, we get a 10-point lead. Then it turns into eight, then it turns into 5. I put up two fingers, and I’m going, “Two.” That is our two-three zone.
Now, here is the issue. While you’re teaching the Olympic staff, guys are enjoying out of place. So any individual like Tina Charles is used to enjoying within the center, [but] she’s on the wing. So now we’re working again and she or he runs to her regular place, towards the center of the ground. Solely drawback is, Sylvia [Fowles] is there. So the Czech youngsters come down, they fireplace the ball into the nook, and earlier than we get on the market, the child makes a 3. I feel they lower [the lead] to a few.
We inbound the ball, throw it to Dee. She dribbles throughout half courtroom, takes like three dribbles and buries a 30-foot 3, runs all the best way throughout the courtroom so she will run again on protection in entrance of our bench — so that everyone may hear as she’s 5 ft away from me — and she or he goes, “Get out of this f—ing zone.”
And I yelled, “5” — that is our man-to-man [defense] — and “Who the hell mentioned go zone?” I pretended like any individual else did.”
Briann January, former Phoenix Mercury teammate, WNBA participant: I do know she in all probability swears that as a result of she’s a vegan she’s been capable of [play] this lengthy, however she does put within the work, and she or he places within the time. Once I was in Phoenix, I used to be teaching at Arizona State, however I used to be additionally coming in and getting exercises in previous to the season.
Watching her degree of focus when she was on the courtroom, and simply the repetition, all the way down to the footwork to her shot. It was constant, at sport velocity, each time. It was simply very intentional, centered work, and she or he put within the time and the hassle and the power each time she stepped on the ground. That is the way you play at that degree for thus lengthy; it would not occur accidentally. You need to put within the time.
Defenses rejoice. The unimaginable profession of @DianaTaurasi has come to an finish.
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— espnW (@espnW) February 25, 2025 The teammate, chief and mentor
Tina Charles, fellow UConn grad and former Olympic teammate: We had been enjoying for Galatasaray in Istanbul within the winter of 2012. She and I had been figuring out collectively, after which she mentioned that I needed to make 10 free throws in a row. That was after my second 12 months [in the WNBA], and I could not do it.
However she stayed within the fitness center with me for perhaps two hours till I made them. She mentioned to me, “An expert participant ought to be capable of make 10 straight free throws.
(Editor’s word: Later that 12 months, in a season with the Connecticut Solar, Charles improved her free throw share from 68.7 in 2011 to 80.2 in 2012 and was the WNBA’s MVP.)
Paige Bueckers, fellow UConn All-American: Coach [Auriemma] advised me about how Dee had this bond along with her teammates, that it was all the time respect and it was all the time love. And out of that, you may maintain individuals accountable and get on individuals, and so long as you’ve got that sort of relationship with them, they will be capable of take it the appropriate approach. And even when they do not, you may have uncomfortable conversations.
That is the most important factor that I’ve discovered: Holding different individuals accountable and getting on individuals and demanding greatness out of individuals is not a foul factor. You are not calling individuals out, you are calling individuals up. Take it as a praise, and never, “Oh, Paige is on me, I am doing unhealthy.” I anticipate greatness out of you, and I anticipate you to be higher.
I can attain out to her about something. … For her to have that open line of communication, the place she’s by no means too huge for anyone — she cares tremendous deeply about all people round her.
Expensive Dee –
Love,
All of Us pic.twitter.com/SnO1q10Fdp
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 19, 2024
Sabrina Ionescu, Olympic teammate, who as senior at Oregon led the Geese to an upset over Taurasi and the U.S. nationwide staff in a November 2019 exhibition: She was somebody I seemed as much as rising up, so I used to be capable of watch her once I was youthful, eager to play within the WNBA and type of like my idol. After we performed the nationwide staff, she got here in and spoke to our staff. I feel it was like an [hourlong] Q&A that she had with our staff, took day out of her day to have the ability to come and try this. …
It meant so much. So then to share the ground along with her, she simply gave me a hug, like a pat on the again after we had been working up the courtroom, and that was type of all I wanted. I did not even know she knew who I used to be.
Bueckers: She got here to Minneapolis to the 2022 Closing 4 and noticed us after the semis after we received to go to the nationwide championship. She was tremendous encouraging. And he or she’s tremendous loving. She tells me on a regular basis that she loves me, she’ll do something for me, she all the time has my again.
[At WNBA All-Star Weekend] they had been asking inquiries to the gamers, fast hitters. And one was, “Should you needed to decide one faculty participant to hitch your pickup staff, who would you decide?” She picked [USC star] JuJu Watkins.
I noticed the video and I used to be like, “All proper, bro, I see what you are doing. You picked JuJu over me. What’s up with that? You advised me you had my again, it was me over all people.”
And he or she was like, “Yeah, canine, I simply did that to encourage you. It is all motivation.”
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The place PTI ranks Diana Taurasi amongst girls’s basketball all-time greats
Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser replicate on Diana Taurasi’s profession after she introduced her retirement from basketball.
The competitor
Rebekkah Brunson, former WNBA participant: I simply bear in mind her being a ache within the butt, she was so good. I performed towards her when she was at UConn and I used to be at Georgetown. You hate to play towards her, however you understand if she’s in your staff, you are going to do one thing particular. She was nice in faculty, however when she got here to the professionals, she may unfold her wings much more and be an a–hole a little bit bit. What nice competitor is not? You need to have an edge.
Valley: While you get her mad or aggravated or indignant, she is cutthroat. Once I coached Kelsey Plum, it was the identical factor. It was like, “Whoa. While you get upset … all the things’s off, like there are not any secure areas.” Like, your mother’s ugly, your child’s ugly. It would not matter. When she takes her gloves off, it was an entire different story.
Chook: We misplaced in Brazil [75-68] in 2006 within the [FIBA World Cup] semis. We misplaced to Russia, in order that even had a little bit bit extra of only a s—ty feeling, as a result of it was all of our [offseason] teammates or individuals we had been enjoying towards over there. That sucked.
We’re all depressed. USA basketball, you do not lose a serious competitors, and this was actually the primary time that Dee and I had been beginning. The staff is ours as guards — and we lose. We had been each taking that basically exhausting. The 2 of us simply went again to my room. We ordered room service, we obtained some drinks.
And similar to, you understand what you do once you lose — you simply discuss a little bit little bit of s—, and then you definitely’re type of unhappy. And then you definitely discuss a little bit bit extra s—, and then you definitely’re like, “What the f— was that individual doing? Are you able to imagine that participant performed so effectively? The referee sucks.” You are simply type of going by means of the cycle of emotion, like, “Oh my god, I can not imagine we misplaced.”
However I additionally would say it type of bonded us in a way. We skilled it collectively. We had, at that time, skilled so many highs collectively, a pair lows in faculty, however so many highs collectively. And now we’re experiencing a low collectively. I feel the lows, the losses — it is the place you actually construct one thing that is sturdy and deep. In order that’s how I might describe that second.
We performed in that third-place sport, and she or he balled absolutely the f— out. She had six 3s, she was killing it [28 points in a 99-59 win for the bronze medal over Brazil]. And that is Diana in a nutshell, proper? That basically marked for us our whole mindset round USA Basketball. It knowledgeable all the things from that time on.
“We’re speaking about somebody who’s established the guts and soul of the ladies’s staff for USA Basketball.”@WindhorstESPN discusses Diana Taurasi’s management and legacy with Workforce USA ???? pic.twitter.com/pwtimzU8i5
— ESPN (@espn) February 26, 2025
Taurasi-Skillern: Her and my husband all the time had been type of aggressive, whether or not it’s ping pong or throwing the soccer the farthest. He is all the time making an attempt to one-up her on one thing.
This one time we had been at Goal searching for Christmas presents, and my husband got here throughout these little Hacky Sacks. And he’s like, “Hey, are you aware find out how to juggle?” And he or she goes, “No, I actually simply have by no means actually tried it.”
So, my husband was like, “Sure, that is it. That is the time I am gonna do one thing higher than her.” He grabs a pair Hacky Sacks and begins throwing them up and juggling two after which three. My sister’s watching him, like, “Yeah, I’ve by no means actually tried it.” And so he thought he was gonna get her.
My sister grabs a pair Hacky Sacks and begins throwing them up within the air, dropping ’em. She tries it a pair occasions — after which actually appears at him, grabs three balls and simply begins juggling like she was out of the circus.
She sticks her tongue out at us and my husband wished to die. He was like, “After all, in fact she’s simply good at all the things.”
Diana Taurasi and Sue Chook received 5 Olympic gold medals collectively, the ultimate coming within the Tokyo Video games in 2021. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsThe buddy
Cunningham: When individuals consider DT, they consider a fierce competitor, somebody who’s tremendous intense, actually would not give a f—. However once you actually get to know DT, she’s probably the most real, loving, caring individual you will ever meet. And I feel that she places up that entrance as a result of she does care so much. I simply assume that is who she is.
Valley: I feel what goes unnoticed is her kindness. The best way she treats the individuals she loves and the way she takes care of them and simply would do something for them might be her most outstanding trait, not even actually something to do with a basketball participant.
It is a huge factor, but it surely’s little. Her dad all the time wished a Mercedes. She buys her dad a Mercedes. Fixes up her mother and father’ kitchen. Helps household out, helps mates out. She’s helped me prior to now. Somebody hits me up they usually’re like, “Hey, can I get tickets?” It was a nationwide staff exhibition sport. She would not know that individual, I do not actually know that individual. [But it’s] “Yep, Mo, no matter you want,” provides the individual two tickets. These random little acts. There’s lots of them. …
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She makes everybody really feel like they’re crucial individual to her when she meets them. She’d meet a little bit child and that individual would speak about it [long afterward]. I meet individuals to at the present time who’re like, “Oh yeah. I met Diana once I was 9 at a UConn sport.” She will be able to simply make you’re feeling like nothing else issues once you’re in her presence.
She’s all the time been good with youngsters. After we performed [at UConn], Michael, Coach’s [Auriemma’s] son was 12. He was like our little brother. We might go to all his video games and obtained to observe him develop up. … We might be at apply, we might be like, “Hey, Coach, Michael, have a sport tonight?” And we might roll in and watch Michael ball out. We cherished it. We went to fairly a couple of video games of Michael’s.
Chook, Taurasi’s Spartak Moscow teammate in Russia: Our very first 12 months in Russia, we’re the one two People. Our coach did not converse English. So we had a translator. Actually what which means is you are simply on tape delay, proper? You are 30 seconds late to [understanding] all the things.
So we’re simply type of like in our personal world. And we laughed so much. We had been guffawing consistently. It was the 2 of us bopping round this chilly place the place no one is smiling, and we’re simply cracking up consistently at all the things.
We had been like the 2 most grateful individuals you have ever met, as a result of ‘spasibo’ [meaning ‘thank you’ in Russian, and pronounced spuh-SEE-buh] is de facto the one phrase lets say. We’re on the grocery retailer, we’re at a restaurant, we’re with our teammates, we’re a apply. We had been similar to, “Oh, thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.'” As a result of it was actually the one approach we may talk initially.
Then Dee added this factor. She was like, “Spasibo, diva!” It means nothing; it is simply her approach. What ended up taking place — as a result of it is Diana — individuals cherished it. They might crack up. The equal [in English] was like if somebody was strolling round going, “Thanks, Hanks!” or “Thanks, Franks!” That is what she was doing.”
Auriemma on Nov. 20, when requested what second from his NCAA-record 1,217th profession win will persist with him probably the most: Anytime Dee talks about her time right here with me and this program, it’s totally, very emotional for me, in order that’s in all probability the most important second.
I simply bear in mind what we went by means of collectively, how a lot she meant to so many individuals right here. What she meant to me, to my household, to my mother. She’s simply a type of distinctive those who comes into your life and also you’re higher off for having her in your life.
Folks on the skin, they see the aggressive, snarky Dee that may lower your coronary heart out. However there’s one thing about her that makes me really feel higher to know that she’s in my world and I am in hers.
The spouse and mom
Chook: Penny [Taylor] was such a tremendous affect on her, and you can see Dee simply type of melted into Penny. None of that’s stunning. And then you definitely add in [son] Leo and [daughter] Isla, simply what a tremendous mother she is. In-season, mothers should do so much to spend time with their youngsters, waking up at like 4 or 5 within the morning, though you’ve got apply.
Dee, deep down, has an unimaginable heat to her. I feel that is actually what Penny tapped into. That is what her kids have tapped into, and that is who you see now. Dee, once you actually get her in a reflective mode or place, I feel she surprises individuals along with her depth and along with her perception. However when you understand her, that is who she is on a regular basis. It is simply you get a little bit duped by the on-court persona.
Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury teammate: I do not even know what 12 months it was, however she was prepping me for when she’s [retired], dropping little information dimes in regards to the sport of life. … We went from my rookie season the place we in all probability did not speak about relationships, however now we’ll speak about being a guardian, being partner, being right here, being current at dwelling. And it is one thing that I actually respect as a result of though we have been right here so lengthy, I am nonetheless in awe of her.
[Taurasi’s best parenting advice] is: None of this issues once you get dwelling. Recreation, loss, win, exhausting apply, irritated at any individual. None of that issues, as a result of when [your family] will get dwelling, they do not know nothing about this. They do not care about this. All they care about is you being proper there. Simply soak it in, as a result of it goes fast.