The Phoenix Mercury are back from the road for a home game, and this time, the day is special. Icon Diana Taurasi is getting another honor over a year after her retirement. On August 16, 2026, Taurasi's No.3 Jersey is being retired and inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.

The team will also be battling the Portland Fire on home ground to celebrate. Ahead of the event, one of the WNBA's biggest trash-talkers was asked whether she had any stories with Taurasi.

"Nah, you don't talk trash to Dee." Alyssa Thomas said to ClutchPoints' Hayden Cilly in a short interview during practice. "That's how you get her going. That’s one person you just leave alone."

Thomas made it clear this wasn't a blanket rule for every teammate, just a lesson learned.

"She plays on a different level. There are certain people who you can talk trash to, but it takes them to another level, so yeah, you leave her alone," Thomas added, reported by ClutchPoints' Hayden Cilly X post.

Thomas and Taurasi never played together for the Phoenix Mercury. However, the two things common between them are their ferocity on the court and the stabbing proficiency in trash talk.

The two were teammates for the national team, but Thomas joined the Mercury right after Taurasi left. This left space in the team not only for a new player but for one who could get under the opponent's skin with words.

Thankfully, it looked like Thomas had the team covered after joining in 2025. In a July 2025 poll by The Athletic, Alyssa Thomas was named the biggest trash talker in the league by 13 out of 36 anonymous WNBA players.

Therefore, in a way, the team's forward has inherited Taurasi's traits and is now carrying the torch with each game.

As for Taurasi, despite her retirement, she isn't ready to completely part ways with the team.

Diana Taurasi aims for Phoenix Mercury ownership after retiring

The Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation, along with the city of Phoenix, refurbished several courts in Taurasi's honor ahead of her jersey number's retirement.

Following the jersey-retirement ceremony, Taurasi said she hopes to join Mercury ownership in a year or two at most, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.

"Ownership is always something that's always been on my mind," Taurasi said, per Josh Weinfuss. "So, thankfully, I'm in a great place where it hopefully can evolve into something. But, I don't want to just do it and not be around. When I do it, I want to be around because I want to have an influence on where this franchise goes."

The team is currently owned by brothers Mat and Justin Ishbia, with the former being the primary owner.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey