Diana Taurasi plays professional basketball in the Women’s National Basketball Association. She plays for Phoenix Mercury. The team selected her second overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She has seventy-nine thousand career points. Six straight seasons, she has averaged 600 points or more. Read on to learn more about Taurasi's impressive career and her similarities 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 averaged 19.3 points per match over her career, which is more than any other player. 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. Due to a strain in her hip flexor, Taurasi missed eight games during the 2012-2013 season. Her return to action was possible in the WNBA Finals. This allowed her to help the Mercury claim their first title since 1997. She also became only the seventh player in WNBA history to win 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 capable to hit fadeaway jumping shots from anywhere on the court. She is quick to find a wide area for the ball and then she moves the ball over her body to the basket side. She bends forward to make more space and then hits her fadeaway jumper. Diana will usually shoot the fadeaway jumper in the low-post or to the side of the foul line if she doesn't have enough space.
Diana Taurasi is also renowned for her excellent passing skills. She is the Phoenix Mercury's all time leading scorer. She also leads the league with assists. She became the first player in WNBA history to earn double-double scoring and assists. 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 their most striking similarities is their competitive spirit. Both players are motivated to succeed. Their desire to win drives them to greatness.
Diana Taurasi has a competitive streak going back over 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. To win a pair Jordans shoes, she had the to make that free shot. Jordan was not able to take handouts from her. She had the same competitive mentality.
Injury-riddled season for Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi, despite her high score average, is likely to miss the rest of the WNBA season following an injury in her right quad. The WNBA's all time leading scorer was just one game away of her WNBA title, but her absence could spell doom for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA announced that they had signed Yvonne Turner to a hardship contract to fill Taurasi's spot on the roster.
Taurasi was unable to play in six regular season games. She missed nine of the first nine games after a hamstring injury. She was able to return to play in three of the remaining games, but she suffered another injury. This time she was unable for scoring, resulting in a single figure score.
Phoenix Mercury's Impact She had
Amazing is the impact Diana Taurasi had on Phoenix Mercury. 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 currently averages 16.1 points per contest and is the second-highest scorer in the team.
Walker and Peddy both play a role on the team. Taurasi, however, has been a significant part of the team's offense. Just six points away from the 9,000-point plateau is the All-Star. She averaged a team-high 26% usage rate through her first four games, which is impressive for a player of her caliber. The extra minutes will most likely be given to the other two All-Stars, Walker and Peddy.