WNBA icon Diana Taurasi has etched her name in basketball history, becoming the league’s all-time scoring leader to reach the remarkable milestone of 10,000 points. After an illustrious career spanning 19 seasons and 521 games, Taurasi stands at an impressive 9,982 points, a mere 18 points away from the monumental 10K plateau.
Providing context to this remarkable feat, Tina Thompson, with 16,089 minutes played in 496 games, fell short of the 8,000-point mark. Thompson holds the second spot on the all-time scoring list with 7,488 points, but her record remains unchangeable as she retired in 2013.
Currently, Diana Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury team is facing the Atlanta Dream, providing a potential opportunity for her to surpass the 10,000-point milestone. Already in the second quarter, with 2 minutes and 45 seconds remaining, the 2009 MVP has already scored 11 points, bringing her closer to this historic achievement.
With an incredible career that demonstrates little sign of slowing down, Taurasi maintains an average of 16.1 points on 41.3% shooting, including 33.6% from beyond the three-point line. Throughout her career, she has consistently averaged above 14.0 PPG, with her highest season average recorded at 25.3 PPG in 2006. Her career scoring average stands at an impressive 19.2 PPG, with a shooting percentage of 42.7% overall and 36.2% from behind the arc.
While Diana Taurasi’s scoring prowess remains unmatched, her team, the Phoenix Mercury, faces challenges in the 2023 WNBA season. Despite her ageless performance and the return of Brittney Griner, the Mercury struggles with a record of 6-19. They currently hold a slim half-game lead over the 6-20 Seattle Storm, vying for the last spot in the Western Conference standings.
Leading the charge for the Mercury in scoring is Brittney Griner, averaging 18.2 PPG, while Taurasi follows closely with 16.1 PPG. Sophie Cunningham contributes significantly with 10.5 PPG.
However, defensive shortcomings and turnovers have proven costly for the Mercury this season, despite the formidable duo of Griner and Taurasi. Tonight’s game is crucial for Phoenix, as they seek to end their four-game losing streak and achieve victory while Taurasi has her sights on breaching the 10,000-point scoring mark, marking another historic moment in her exceptional career.