Diana Taurasi obtained a move and immediately, the shot was off her fingertips. It was a 3-pointer that splashed by means of the online, similar to so many others.
Taurasi grew to become the primary WNBA participant to achieve 10,000 factors, hitting the mark with 8:23 remaining within the third quarter towards Atlanta Dream on Thursday evening. After the shot, the group in Phoenix erupted in cheers and Taurasi’s teammates surrounded her in a circle, leaping up and down and celebrating.
“It was a cool evening — you couldn’t have wrote this any higher for our followers and our metropolis,” Taurasi mentioned. “I’m actually grateful for my teammates as a result of moments like this, it’s everybody’s second. They actually got here with me and wished me to do it tonight.”
It was a classic efficiency from Taurasi, who reminded everybody simply how unbelievable she’s been in her profession with a season-high 42 factors on 12 of 21 taking pictures, together with 6 of 13 from 3-point vary. She additionally hit all 12 of her free throws and Mercury gained 91-71.
The 41-year-old guard began the evening needing 18 factors to make it to 10,000 — and completed at 10,024.
“Tomorrow, I’ll really feel like I’m 50,” Taurasi mentioned grinning.
“On behalf of the WNBA and basketball followers worldwide, I wish to lengthen my heartfelt congratulations to Diana on reaching the unbelievable milestone of 10,000 factors as she continues to creator new chapters is an illustrious WNBA profession,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned in a press release.
“Diana’s achievement stands as a testomony to her talent, willpower, and unwavering dedication to the sport, which alongside together with her aggressive nature, has captivated followers together with her unbelievable scoring capability, clutch performances, and unparalleled basketball IQ. We’re honored to witness this milestone.”
Taurasi acquired her scoring began on Thursday with a nook 3-pointer about two minutes into the sport after which drove by means of the Atlanta protection for a layup a couple of minutes later. She had 10 factors by halftime.
She was proper again at it within the third quarter, hitting a layup on the Mercury’s first possession. Then she hit back-to-back 3-pointers — the final a 28-footer over two defenders that acquired her to 10,000 factors.
“I got here right here a little bit nervous, I didn’t wish to disappoint anybody, I simply wished to get it over with for a way of aid,” Taurasi mentioned. “However on the similar time, I used to be simply specializing in attempting to win a sport.”
It’s been a troublesome yr for Mercury, who’ve a 7-19 file. However this was a second the entire franchise may have fun. In a postgame celebration, Taurasi was introduced a number of presents and listened to a number of tributes on the video board, together with from NBA commissioner Adam Silver, tennis icon Billie Jean King, South Carolina coach Daybreak Staley and Corridor of Famer Magic Johnson.
Taurasi has been the cornerstone of the Phoenix franchise since she was drafted first in 2004 out of UConn. She not solely is the profession regular-season scoring chief, but in addition holds that mark within the playoffs. She’s gained three WNBA championships for Mercury and was twice the MVP of the Finals.
Taurasi has averaged greater than 19 factors in her profession, together with a career-high 25.3 factors in 2006. She is greater than 2,500 factors forward of Tina Thompson, who’s second on the scoring listing with 7,488 factors.
Cheyenne Parker had 20 factors for Dream.