Basketball Titan Diana Taurasi retires after 20 seasons and six Olympic gold | Basketball

Diana Taurasi retires after 20 seasons and ends one of the biggest careers in the basketball history.

WNBA’s career scoring leader and a three-time league champion Taurasi announced his retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time Magazine. Phoenix Mercury – the only WNBA team she played for – also confirmed her decision.

“Mentally and physically I’m just drunk,” taurasi Told time. “It’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and am happy. “

With his tight hair bowl and the top confidence, Taurasi inspired a generation of players while getting records and championships.

Taurasi led Uconn to three equal national titles from 2001-04 and continued to win after Mercury chose her with No. 1 overall election of the WNBA draft in 2004.

“It’s hard to put into words, that’s really what it means. When someone has defined the game, when someone had an impact on so many people and so many places. You can’t define it with an offer, ”said Uconn trainer Geno Auriemma. “It’s a life that is a novel, it’s a movie, it’s a mini -series, it’s a saga. It is the life of an extraordinary person who I think had as much to do with changing women’s basketball as anyone who has ever played the game. “

The 42-year-old won its sixth Olympic gold medal at Paris Games and ends his WNBA career with 10,646 points, almost 3,000 more than second place Tina Charles.

In addition to her three WNBA championships with Mercury, Taurasi won six Euroleague championships while playing all year round in most of her career. She was 2009 WNBA MVP and is one of four players who serve WNBA FINALS MVP Honor more than once (2009, 2014).

“Diana is the biggest that has ever played the game. I’ve been a fan of her all my life, she’s the ultimate leader and teammate, ”Mercury said Mat Ishbia in a statement. “She has had an incredible impact on our franchise, our society and the basketball match. Her name is synonymous with Phoenix Mercury and she will forever be part of our family. “

Taurasi made All-Wnba first team 10 times and was on the first or second team for a record 14 times. She is also an 11-time WNBA All-Star, four-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year and was the WNBA-rookie of the year in 2004.

“In my opinion, what the greatness has in common, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport,” Auriemma said. “As long as people talk about college basketball, wnba basketball, Olympic basketball, Diana is the biggest winner in the basketball history, period. I’ve had the pleasure of being around her in many of these moments and she’s the biggest teammate I’ve ever coached. “

Glendale, California, Natives have several WNBA records, including playoff scoring, field goals, three-points and 30-point games. She also has 16 Mercury Records.

In his career, Taurasi was an average of 18.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds. She average 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists while led Mercury to the playoffs during her 20th season.

“In her first years she was a whole last problem. I mean, she just scored on all three levels, ”said Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon. “Just ugly out there. Just had the ugly that I love. As you love it as a competitor. So our league is going to miss her. “