Diana Taurasi plays professional basketball in the Women’s National Basketball Association. She plays with the Phoenix Mercury. The team selected her first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft. She has reached seven thousand career points and six straight seasons of 600 or more points. Continue reading to find out more about Taurasi's remarkable career and similarities to Michael Jordan.
7,000 career points
Diana Taurasi was the fastest player to reach the 7,000-point milestone in the WNBA. Taurasi has averaged 19.3 ppg over her career. This is more than any other player of the league. She is 482 point shy of Tina Thompson’s all-time WNBA scoring mark. Thompson's all-time scoring record of 482 points is hers, but she could surpass Thompson as soon as this season.
This achievement comes after a tough season. Due to a strain in her hip flexor, Taurasi missed eight games during the 2012-2013 season. Taurasi was able to play in the WNBA Finals, helping the Mercury win their first title since 1997. She also became only the seventh player in WNBA history to win the NCAA title.
Six consecutive years with 600 points or more
Diana Taurasi is a great shooter, with an impressive range of shots. She is skilled at hitting fadeaway jumpers anywhere on the court. She is quick to find a wide area for the ball and then she moves the ball over her body to the basket side. She bends over to create space and then hits the fadeaway jumper. Diana will shoot the jumper if there isn’t enough space.
Diana Taurasi's great passing abilities are also something that is well-known. She is also the Phoenix Mercury's leading scorer. She also leads the league with assists. She became the first player in WNBA history to earn double-double scoring and assists. She is the only player to have both the scoring and assists titles in WNBA history.
Similarity to Michael Jordan
It is essential to note the similarities and distinctions between Michael Jordan and Diana Taurasi when comparing them. These two great basketball players are often compared, but what was their commonality in their respective careers? The most striking thing about the two is their competitive spirit. Both players have a competitive spirit that drives them to succeed.
Diana Taurasi's competitive streak dates back to two decades. She missed a throw in a HORSE tournament with Michael Jordan in early '90s. To win a pair Jordan shoes, she had to make the free throw. She exhibited the same competitive mindset as Jordan did not take handouts.
Diana Taurasi's injury-ridden season
Diana Taurasi has been injured to her right quad, which resulted in her not scoring as high as she would like. This means that Diana Taurasi will miss the remainder WNBA seasons. The WNBA's alltime leader scorer was just one win away from her WNBA Championship title. However, her absence could spell trouble for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA has signed Yvonne Turner as a hardship contract to replace Taurasi.
Taurasi missed nine regular season games because of a hamstring injury. She played in three more regular season games after sustaining another injury. This time, she was unable to score, resulting in a single-digit scoring total.
Phoenix Mercury has seen the positive impact she had
The Phoenix Mercury's impact of Diana Taurasi on it has been amazing. She was 40 years old when she led the Mercury's victory over the Atlanta Dream to 90-88. She tied the season record for scoring 32 points on her birthday and made six 3-pointers. She currently averages 16.1 points per contest and is the second-highest scorer in the team.
Walker and Peddy are role players, but Taurasi is now a key part of the team’s offense. The All-Star is just six points shy of the 9,000-point plateau. In her four first-round games, she had a team-best 26% usage rate. That is impressive for a player with her skill set. The extra minutes will most likely be given to the other two All-Stars, Walker and Peddy.