Diana Taurasi
Billie Jean King has always been a pillar of strength for women especially within the sporting fraternity – she congratulated Diana Taurasi on scripting WNBA history.
After establishing herself as the most accomplished WNBA player over many years, Diana Taurasi solidified her exceptional status as a unique and unmatched superstar with a remarkable shot on Thursday evening.
Taurasi, currently in her 19th WNBA season, left an indelible mark in the league’s history during the Mercury’s game against the Dream by becoming the inaugural player to surpass 10,000 career points.
Following her 10-point contribution in the first half, Taurasi continued to shine during Phoenix’s 91-71 triumph, delivering another memorable performance on this significant occasion. The soon-to-be Hall of Famer achieved a season-best 42 points, achieving this feat by making 12 of 21 field goal attempts (including 6 of 13 three-pointers) and converting all 12 of her free throws.
Billie Jean King celebrated the remarkable achievement of Diana Taurasi on Twitter, raising a toast to her as the pioneer in the WNBA to achieve 10,000 career points. King, a steadfast champion for gender parity, stands as a symbol of empowerment for female athletes in the world of sports. “Cheers to @DianaTaurasi who has made history as the first @WNBA player to reach 10,000 career points”, King wrote. She often uses her voice to endorse women’s causes and motivate women athletes to achieve greatness in their sporting pursuits.
Selected as the top pick in the 2004 draft, Diana Taurasi, often referred to as the “White Mamba” globally, has accumulated numerous honors throughout her distinguished journey. With a career spanning over 520 games, she has secured the title of a three-time WNBA champion and a 10-time All-Star. Now, she emerges as a solitary figure in the chronicles of league history.
During a remarkable evening where she achieved her first 40-point performance since 2010, Diana Taurasi, aged 41, achieved a historic feat by becoming the oldest player in WNBA history to score 40 points, as reported by ESPN. Her scoring spree pushed her career total to 10,024 points, surpassing Tina Thompson’s previous record of 7,488 points which now places Taurasi at the top.
Throughout the current season, Taurasi has played in 18 games and maintained an average of 16.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, prior to the recent match. Having secured the title of the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2017, she continues to impress. The Mercury, with a record of 7–19, currently hold the fourth position in the Western Conference and stand 11th in the league standings, with 14 more games to go.
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