In an exclusive interview with Time magazine, 42-year-old basketball legend Diana Taurasi announced her retirement from the WNBA. The four-time U.S. Basketball Female Athlete of the Year revealed that her body simply couldn’t take another season.
“I just didn’t have it in me,” Taurasi told Time. “That was pretty much when I knew it was time to walk away.”
Taurasi leaves behind a 20-year WNBA career that will never be forgotten. From winning three championships at UConn, earning two Big East Player of the Year awards, and being named Naismith College Player of the Year, she entered the WNBA as the No. 1 overall pick and became one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time.
She finished her career averaging 18.8 points and 4.2 assists per game, with 11 All-Star selections and six Olympic gold medals. Close friend LeBron James also spoke with Time to give her flowers.
“Just seeing her transcend the game, watching little girls want to play like her—her style, her flair, her bravado, her swagger—it’s been an unbelievable treat,” the NBA icon said.
Reflecting on what she’ll miss the most, Taurasi spoke about the journey that defined her basketball career.
“I’m going to miss trying to get better every single offseason,” she said. “I’m going to miss the bus rides, shootarounds. I’m going to miss the inside jokes. I’m going to miss the locker room, the things that come with being on a basketball team. All those things, I’ll deeply miss.”
Her legacy is cemented in basketball history, inspiring generations of players who continue to follow in her footsteps.
