Diana Taurasi is undeniably one of the greatest WNBA stars of all time. On August 16, 2026, the Phoenix Mercury honored their best retired player with yet another huge accolade.

Taurasi became the sixth person to be inducted into the Mercury's Ring of Honor. Along with this, her No. 3 jersey was also officially retired by the team.

“Today's a big one. Today feels different,” Taurasi said before the Phoenix Mercury vs Portland Fire game, as reported by David Brandt of the Associated Press. “When your number goes up there, you can't use it anymore, it's done. So if there was any little competitiveness still in me, I think today it goes up in the rafters with the number and it feels really good.”

According to Brandt's August 17 Associated Press report, Taurasi's career can humble any rival across the league. Along with being a 14x All-WNBA and 11x WNBA All-Star, she was also the Finals MVP for the 2009 and 2014 seasons.

Her fierce competitiveness on the court led her to become a three-time WNBA champion, winning trophies for her team in 2007, 2009, and 2014.

During her induction speech, Taurasi did not forget to thank the city and the fans who were with her throughout her journey. The fans, players, and workers on the Mercury's home ground were more than strangers. For her, they were a part of her big family.

“This place has made me who I am,” Taurasi claimed, thanking the city.

Taurasi spent 20 years playing for the Phoenix Mercury, from 2004 to 2024. . She never set foot outside her team in the WNBA and achieved enviable accolades while she was there. And now, she plans to support the team in a different capacity.

Diana Taurasi plans to join Phoenix Mercury ownership group

On August 14, 2026, Diana Taurasi told ESPN that she is interested in owning the Phoenix Mercury, a team she's given 20 years of her life to.

"Ownership is always something that's always been on my mind," Taurasi said, as per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. She noted that she wants to have a continuous presence in how the franchise functions.

"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."

Currently, the Phoenix Mercury are owned by brothers Mat and Justin Ishbia, with the former being the primary owner. Joining ownership would take Taurasi's dedication to the team to a greater level.

As of the time of writing, she hasn't made any major moves known to the public.

What do you think about Taurasi's career progression in the WNBA? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit