PHOENIX MERCURY

‘If this is it …’: Diana Taurasi tribute video released by Mercury ahead of last regular season game

Sep 19, 2024, 2:21 PM

Penny Taylor reading a video tribute for Mercury star Diana Taurasi...

Penny Taylor in a video tribute for Diana Taurasi (Screenshot)

(Screenshot)

Thursday very well could be Diana Taurasi’s last game in front of the Phoenix Mercury home crowd.

The 42-year-old is on an expiring contract. There’s the possibility her team might not play again in Footprint Center this season, with two road games to begin the playoffs at the Minnesota Lynx. And then there’s the indecision about her playing future.

Altogether, it brings a possibility that the Mercury’s regular-season finale against the Seattle Storm is the last home game ever for the all-time WNBA leading scorer.

The Mercury rolled out a tribute video with the asterisk of a theme: “If this is it …”

Penny Taylor, Taurasi’s wife, begins the video reading Taurasi a letter.

The video also features current teammate Brittney Griner, Taurasi’s agent and her sister.

“If this is it — thank you for letting us share in the joy,” part of the letter reads. “For the banners and MVPs, for 10K (points), for getting to see you on that medal stand six times. For letting us call you ‘GOAT’ even though you hated it. And for the technicals where you really got your money’s worth.”

Phoenix will hand out t-shirts with the letter to all fans who attend the regular season finale on Thursday.

 

Taurasi said Tuesday that she had not made a decision about whether she would continue playing after this season.

“I don’t know,” Taurasi told reporters in Los Angeles. “The last couple of weeks have been a little nerve-racking for myself. I don’t want to make any emotional, rash decisions. I know the end is near. When that is, I don’t know.

“I’ve always been a person that just concentrates on what’s next. And that’s practice tomorrow and then [versus] Seattle on Thursday. I guess when the season’s over, I’ll reflect and I’ll get advice from the people that are closest to my heart.”

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