Ever since she was selected as the first overall by Phoenix Mercury in the 2004 WNBA Draft, Diana Taurasi never looked back. For two decades, she built her legacy by committing to the team as a core member and witnessed historic milestones along the way.
Taurasi won three WNBA titles with the Mercury in 2007, 2009 and 2014. She’s also the all-time leading scorer of the league. Last February, Taurasi announced her retirement, marking an end to her gilded career with the Mercury. She’s the only player in league history to go past the 10,000-career points mark. She accomplished this feat during the 2023 WNBA season.
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During her stint with the Mercury, she averaged 18.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.9 steals per game. She attained a 42.5% of field goal accuracy. She was a 14-time All-WNBA selection, 11-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Finals MVP. She was also 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year in her first season for the Mercury.
On Tuesday, Phoenix Mercury made a special announcement for Taurasi. During the 2026 WNBA season, she will receive the team’s highest honor.
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Taurasi will be inducted into Mercury’s Ring of Honor when the team hosts the Portland Fire on Aug. 16. During the ceremony, the former WNBA star’s jersey no.3 will be officially retired. She will join Cheryl Miller, Jennifer Gillom (22), Bridget Pettis (32), Penny Taylor (13) and Michele Timms (7) in the team’s Ring of Honor.
“For two decades, Diana set the standard for what it means to win, compete and lead at the highest level, doing it in a way that was uniquely hers,” said Phoenix Mercury owner Mat Ishbia. “We look forward to celebrating her legendary career as we raise her name and number to the rafters.”
While fans of Taurasi will look forward to her Ring of Honor ceremony, it will only happen when the WNBA season officially begins. Due to ongoing talks regarding the collective bargaining agreement, the next season is still in doubts. March 10 has been finalized as the deadline for any solution to come out to prevent any delay.
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Related: WNBA All-Star Captain Receives Strong Words From Diana Taurasi
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
