History of Diana Taurasi in Timeline
Diana Taurasi is an American former professional basketball player, celebrated as one of the greatest in WNBA history. She played 20 seasons for the Phoenix Mercury. Taurasi gained prominence playing college basketball for the University of Connecticut, where she led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships.
June 11, 1982: Diana Taurasi's Birth
On June 11, 1982, Diana Lorena Taurasi, widely considered one of the greatest women's basketball players ever, was born. She would go on to have a remarkable career in the WNBA and college basketball.
1999: Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year
In 1999, Diana Taurasi was named Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year.
2000: Enrolled at the University of Connecticut
In 2000, Diana Taurasi enrolled at the University of Connecticut (UConn) and began playing for the women's basketball team.
2000: High School Graduation and Awards
In 2000, Diana Taurasi graduated from Don Antonio Lugo High School and received the Cheryl Miller Award, was named Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year, and the Naismith and "Parade Magazine" National High School Player of the Year.
2000: Taurasi wins gold medal at FIBA Americas Championship
In 2000, Diana Taurasi was a member of the United States women's U18 team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. She averaged 12.6 points per game and led the team with 5.46 assists per game.
2001: UConn's Final Four Loss
Following a poor shooting performance in UConn's 2001 Final Four loss to Notre Dame, Diana Taurasi vowed that they would not lose another tournament game while she was playing. They proceeded to win three straight national titles.
2001: Taurasi earns bronze medal at U.S. junior World Championship
In 2001, Diana Taurasi earned a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. junior World Championship team.
2003: Received Personal Accolades at UConn
In 2003, Diana Taurasi received the Naismith College Player of the Year award, the Wade Trophy, the Honda Sports Award, and the Associated Press Player of the Year award while playing at UConn.
2003: Phoenix Mercury's Record
In 2003, the Phoenix Mercury had a record of 8–26.
May 12, 2004: Taurasi selected for the 2004 Olympics
On May 12, 2004, Diana Taurasi was selected to compete at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece with the United States national team.
2004: Received Naismith College Player of the Year Award and Honda Sports Award
In 2004, Diana Taurasi received the Naismith College Player of the Year award and the Honda Sports Award.
2004: Drafted to Phoenix Mercury and Olympic Gold Medal
In 2004, Diana Taurasi was drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA draft and won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. national team.
2004: WNBA Debut
In 2004, Diana Taurasi was selected first overall in the WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury and scored 22 points in her WNBA debut against the Sacramento Monarchs. She was also named to the Western Conference All-Star team and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.
2005: Second All-Star Selection
In 2005, Diana Taurasi averaged 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while battling an ankle injury and was selected as an All-Star for the second straight year. However, the Mercury missed the playoffs.
2005: Taurasi joins Dynamo Moscow
In 2005, Diana Taurasi began her international career playing for Dynamo Moscow.
2005: Earned Bachelor's Degree from UConn
In 2005, after a break to play in the WNBA and the Olympics, Diana Taurasi returned to UConn and earned her bachelor's degree, which she valued highly as the first in her family to graduate from college.
2006: Inducted into University of Connecticut Women's Basketball "Huskies of Honor"
In 2006, Diana Taurasi was inducted into the inaugural class of the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.
2006: Taurasi joins Spartak Moscow
In 2006, Diana Taurasi was recruited to play for Spartak Moscow.
2006: Taurasi earns bronze medal at FIBA World Championship
In 2006, Diana Taurasi was the second leading scorer on the U.S. national basketball team and earned the bronze medal at the FIBA World Championship held in São Paulo, Brazil.
2006: Won First Scoring Title
In 2006, Diana Taurasi won her first WNBA scoring title.
2006: Historic Season and Scoring Records
In 2006, under coach Paul Westhead, Diana Taurasi had a historic season, leading the league in scoring. She broke Katie Smith's league record for points in a season with 741 points, averaged a WNBA record 25.3 points per game, and set a WNBA record with 121 three-pointers in a single season. She also scored a then-league record 47 points in a triple-overtime victory against the Houston Comets, making a then-WNBA record eight three-pointers during the game. Despite her performance, the Mercury missed the playoffs.
2007: Won First WNBA Championship
In 2007, Diana Taurasi reached the WNBA playoffs for the first time and led the Phoenix Mercury to their first WNBA title, becoming the seventh player to win an NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold medal.
2007: Spartak Moscow wins EuroLeague championship
In 2007, Spartak Moscow won the EuroLeague championship.
2008: Taurasi wins gold medal at the Beijing Olympics
In 2008, Diana Taurasi represented the United States at the Summer Games in Beijing, China, where she started all eight games and helped lead the U.S. to the gold medal.
2008: Won Second Scoring Title
In 2008, Diana Taurasi won her second WNBA scoring title.
July 2, 2009: Taurasi arrested for driving under the influence
On July 2, 2009, Diana Taurasi was arrested for driving under the influence.
2009: Taurasi named Final Four MVP
In 2009, Diana Taurasi was named the Final Four MVP for EuroLeague.
2009: Won WNBA MVP and Championship
In 2009, Diana Taurasi won the WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and led the Phoenix Mercury to their second WNBA championship, also winning the WNBA Finals MVP Award.
2009: Named WNBA MVP and Won Second Championship
In the 2009 season, Diana Taurasi was named the WNBA MVP and led the Phoenix Mercury to its second WNBA championship, winning the WNBA Finals MVP. She became the second player to win the scoring title, MVP award, a WNBA Championship, and Finals MVP in the same season.
2009: Taurasi invited to USA Basketball training camp
In the fall of 2009, Diana Taurasi was invited to the USA Basketball women's national team training camp.
December 24, 2010: Taurasi tests positive for mild stimulant
On December 24, 2010, it was revealed that Diana Taurasi had tested positive for a mild stimulant, leading to a provisional suspension from the Turkish league.
2010: Taurasi wins gold medal at FIBA World Championships
In 2010, Diana Taurasi was a member of the U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships. Taurasi led the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game.
2010: Taurasi named Final Four MVP again
In 2010, Diana Taurasi was named the Final Four MVP for EuroLeague for the second consecutive year.
2010: Taurasi participates in FIBA World Championship
In 2010, Diana Taurasi was selected to participate at the FIBA World Championship.
2010: Won FIBA World Cup
In 2010, Diana Taurasi won a FIBA World Cup as a member of the U.S. national team.
February 16, 2011: Taurasi cleared of doping allegations
On February 16, 2011, Diana Taurasi was cleared of doping allegations after the test was found to be a false positive.
2011: Taurasi plays for Galatasaray
In 2011, Diana Taurasi joined Galatasaray, a major team from Istanbul.
2011: Named one of WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time
In 2011, Diana Taurasi was voted by fans as one of the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time.
2011: Named one of the Top 15 players in WNBA History
In 2011, Diana Taurasi was voted one of the Top 15 players in the fifteen-year history of the WNBA by fans after being selected to her seventh All-WNBA First Team.
May 16, 2012: Taurasi signs with UMMC Ekaterinburg
On May 16, 2012, Diana Taurasi signed a contract with UMMC Ekaterinburg, joining fellow WNBA star Candace Parker.
2012: Injury-Riddled Season
In 2012, Diana Taurasi had an injury-riddled season, playing only eight games due to a strained left hip flexor. The Mercury finished the season with a poor record.
2012: Taurasi participates in Olympics
In 2012, Diana Taurasi was selected to participate at the Olympics.
2012: Taurasi wins third Olympic gold medal
In 2012, Diana Taurasi won her third Olympic gold medal as the United States defeated France in the final.
2012: Galatasaray eliminated in EuroLeague quarter-final round
In 2012, Galatasaray was eliminated in the Final Eight quarter-final round of the EuroLeague.
2013: Return from Injury
In 2013, Diana Taurasi returned healthy for the season, playing 32 games and averaging over 20 points per game for the sixth time in her career. The Mercury finished third in the Western Conference and advanced to the conference finals but lost to the Minnesota Lynx.
2013: UMMC wins EuroLeague, Russian Championships and Russian Cup
In 2013, UMMC Ekaterinburg won the EuroLeague, Russian Championships, and Russian Cup.
2014: Taurasi's Salary
For the 2014 WNBA season, Diana Taurasi made just under the league maximum of $107,000.
2014: Taurasi signs endorsement deal with Nike
In 2014, Diana Taurasi signed an endorsement deal with Nike.
2014: Won Third WNBA Championship
In 2014, Diana Taurasi won her third WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and was named the WNBA Finals MVP for the second time.
2014: UMMC repeats Russian Championship and Cup win
In 2014, the UMMC team repeated their Russian Championship and Cup win.
2014: Won Third WNBA Championship and Finals MVP
In the 2014 season, Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury finished with a record of 29–5, setting the record for most wins in a regular season. They swept the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals, and Taurasi won her third championship and second WNBA Finals MVP.
February 3, 2015: Announced she would sit out the 2015 WNBA season
On February 3, 2015, Diana Taurasi announced that she would sit out the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian Premier League team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, due to being offered more money than her WNBA salary.
2015: Taurasi leads UMMC to its third Euroleague title
In 2015, Diana Taurasi led UMMC to its third Euroleague title and earned MVP honors.
2015: UMMC loses in EuroLeague final
In 2015, UMMC Ekaterinburg lost in the EuroLeague final against USK Praha.
2015: Taurasi offered a deal to skip the WNBA season
In 2015, UMMC offered Diana Taurasi a deal to skip the WNBA season to rest due to an injury.
2016: Taurasi wins fourth Olympic gold medal
In 2016, Diana Taurasi played at the Olympics in Rio, earning her fourth gold medal while helping the United States overcome Spain in the final.
2016: Taurasi helps UMMC to its eleventh league championship
In 2016, Diana Taurasi returned to UMMC, helping the team to its eleventh league championship.
2016: Returned to the Mercury and advanced to the semi-finals
In 2016, Diana Taurasi returned to the Mercury, helping them reach the playoffs with a 16-18 record. The Mercury advanced to the semi-finals, where they were swept by the Minnesota Lynx. During the first-round game, Taurasi made her 113th playoff career three-pointer, passing Becky Hammon as the all-time WNBA leader.
2016: Taurasi returns to the Phoenix Mercury
In 2016, Diana Taurasi returned to the Phoenix Mercury after skipping the 2015 WNBA season.
2016: Named to WNBA Top 20@20
In 2016, Diana Taurasi was named to the WNBA Top 20@20 team, celebrating the league's 20th anniversary.
May 13, 2017: Taurasi marries Penny Taylor
On May 13, 2017, Diana Taurasi married her former teammate Penny Taylor.
May 2017: Signed Contract Extension and Reached Milestones
In May 2017, Diana Taurasi signed a multi-year contract extension with the Mercury and became the first player in league history to reach 7,000 points, 1,500 rebounds, and 1,500 assists. Later, on June 18, she became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer.
June 18, 2017: Became WNBA All-Time Leading Scorer
On June 18, 2017, Diana Taurasi became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer.
December 2017: Taurasi announces retirement from European competition
In December 2017, Diana Taurasi announced her retirement from European competition.
March 1, 2018: Taylor gives birth to the couple's son
On March 1, 2018, Penny Taylor gave birth to the couple's son.
May 18, 2018: First Player in WNBA History to Make 1,000 3-Pointers
On May 18, 2018, Diana Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers in a game against the Dallas Wings.
June 5, 2018: First Player in WNBA History to Score 8,000 Points
On June 5, 2018, Diana Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to score 8,000 points in a victory against the Liberty.
July 8, 2018: League's All-Time Leader in Field Goals Made
On July 8, 2018, Diana Taurasi became the league's all-time leader in field goals made in a victory against the Connecticut Sun.
August 1, 2018: Scored Season-High 37 Points
On August 1, 2018, Diana Taurasi scored a season-high 37 points in a victory against the Las Vegas Aces. The Mercury finished the season 20–14 with the number five seed in the league.
2018: Expected end of season with UMMC
In 2018, Diana Taurasi was expected to play through the end of the season with UMMC.
2018: Won FIBA World Cup
In 2018, Diana Taurasi won a FIBA World Cup as a member of the U.S. national team.
April 2019: Wife Hired as Assistant Coach
In April 2019, the Mercury announced that Diana Taurasi's wife, Penny Taylor, had been hired as an assistant coach.
September 2019: Confirmed Intention to Play in 2020
In September 2019, Diana Taurasi confirmed that she intended to play for the team in 2020.
August 23, 2020: Taurasi scores season-high while honoring Kobe Bryant
On August 23, 2020, Diana Taurasi scored a season-high of 34 points in a victory against the Washington Mystics while honoring Kobe Bryant's birthday by wearing his number 8 jersey with his last name. The Phoenix Mercury finished the season with a 13-9 record.
2020: Intention to Play
Diana Taurasi had confirmed her intention to play for the team in 2020
2020: Taurasi wins fifth Olympic gold medal
In 2020, Diana Taurasi was a key member of the gold medal-winning U.S. women's Olympic team in Tokyo, earning Taurasi a record fifth gold medal.
February 2021: Taurasi re-signs with the Mercury
In February 2021, Diana Taurasi re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury on a two-year deal.
October 6, 2021: Due date of Taurasi's second child
On October 6, 2021, Penny Taylor was expected to give birth to the couple's second child.
October 8, 2021: Taurasi wins Game 5 with message for Taylor
After a Game 5 win on October 8, 2021, Diana Taurasi had a message for Penny Taylor in her post-game interview, closing with "Hold it in babe, I'm coming."
October 9, 2021: Taylor gives birth to their daughter
On October 9, 2021, Penny Taylor gave birth to the couple's daughter at 4:24 am, with Diana Taurasi arriving in time to witness the birth.
2021: Named to The W25 and Greatest Player of All Time
In 2021, Diana Taurasi was named to The W25, the WNBA's 25th-anniversary team, and was selected by fans as the league's greatest player of all time.
August 2023: Taurasi scores 10,000 career points
In August 2023, Diana Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to score 10,000 career points, marking a significant milestone in her career.
October 1, 2024: Taurasi releases signature sneaker in collaboration with LeBron James
On October 1, 2024, Diana Taurasi is set to release her signature sneaker, the Nike LeBron NXXT Gen AMPD PE, in collaboration with LeBron James.
2024: Taurasi wins sixth Olympic gold medal
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Diana Taurasi won her sixth Olympic gold medal, becoming the only basketball player with six Olympic gold medals.
February 2025: Taurasi Retires
In February 2025, at the age of 42, Diana Taurasi announced her retirement from professional basketball.
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