Diana Taurasi is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association. She plays for the Phoenix Mercury. The team selected her in the 2004 WNBA drafting. She has scored seven thousand career points and had six straight seasons of 600+ points. Keep reading for more details about Taurasi's career and comparisons to Michael Jordan.
7,000 career points
Diana Taurasi is faster than any other player at the WNBA to cross the 7,000 mark. Taurasi has averaged 19.3 points per game over her career, more than any other player in the league. She is 482 point shy of Tina Thompson’s all-time WNBA scoring mark. But she could surpass Thompson as early as this year.
This achievement comes after a tough season. Taurasi missed eight games of the 2012-2013 season because she injured her hip flexor. She returned to action at the WNBA Finals to assist the Mercury in their first title win since 1997. She is also the only WNBA player to have won the NCAA title.
Six consecutive seasons of 600 or more points
Diana Taurasi is a skilled shooter and can take a variety shot. She is able to hit fadeaway jumpers all over the court. She searches for large open areas and then pushes the ball towards her basket side. She bends forward to make more space and then hits her fadeaway jumper. Diana will often shoot the jumper at the low post or sideline if there's not enough space.
Diana Taurasi's great passing abilities are also something that is well-known. She is the all-time leading scorer for the Phoenix Mercury. She is also the league's leading assister. She was also the first player to be awarded the double-double for scoring and assists in 2015. She is the only player in WNBA History to win both titles in a single year.
Similarity with Michael Jordan
When you compare Diana Taurasi to Michael Jordan, you need to take into account the similarities as well as differences between these two outstanding players. These two great basketball players are often compared, but what was their commonality in their respective careers? One of the most striking similarities is the competitive spirit. Both players are driven to succeed, and their desire to win and succeed drives them to achieve greatness.
Diana Taurasi has a competitive streak that stretches back two decades. She was a participant in a HORSE competition that Michael Jordan hosted in the early '90s. However, she missed a free throwing opportunity. She had to make that free throw to win a pair of Jordan shoes. She exhibited the same competitive mindset as Jordan did not take handouts.
Diana Taurasi suffers from injuries
Diana Taurasi will be out of action for the remainder WNBA season due to an injury to her right quad. The WNBA's alltime leading scorer was still one game away from her WNBA championship title. But her absence could be disastrous for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA announced that they have signed Yvonne Turner on a hardship agreement to fill Taurasi’s spot on their roster.
Taurasi was unable to play in six regular season games. She missed nine of the first nine games after a hamstring injury. Taurasi returned to three games but was then injured again. She was unable scoring this time, so her total score was only one-digit.
Phoenix Mercury: The impact she has had
The impact Diana Taurasi has had on the Phoenix Mercury has been remarkable. She turned 40 this Saturday, but she still led the Mercury in a victory over the Atlanta Dream by leading them to a win of 90-88. She tied a season best with 32 points, six 3-pointers and tied a season low on her 40th birthday. She is currently second on team scoring with 16.1 point per game.
Walker and Peddy play important roles on the team. However, Taurasi has emerged as a crucial part of their offense. Just six points away from the 9,000-point plateau is the All-Star. The average team usage rate for her first four games was 26%, which is quite impressive for a player like her. The extra minutes will most likely be given to the other two All-Stars, Walker and Peddy.