Lynx star Napheesa Collier recognizes that she has an opportunity to end WNBA legend Diana Taurasi's historic career after Minnesota's 102-95 Game 1 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday night.
"It seems like it's (Taurasi's) retirement tour," Collier told reporters postgame, according to ESPN's Myron Medcalf. "She's been pretty quiet about it. She's, obviously, a UConn great, a league GOAT, so I feel lucky to have been able to play with her on Team USA and against her. Hopefully, we can end her career on Wednesday."
Taurasi is in the 20th year of her career - spent entirely with the Phoenix Mercury - and is the WNBA's all-time leader in points (10,646) and field goals made (3,341). She also sits second in games played (565) and fourth in assists (2,394). The 42-year-old is a three-time WNBA champion and two-time Finals MVP.
Taurasi was part of three NCAA Tournament title teams for UConn and was named the tournament's most outstanding player in both the 2003 and 2004 tourney. Her six gold medals also make her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history.
The 2009 WNBA MVP will become a free agent at the end of this run and has not announced whether this will be her final year in the league.
Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts says her potential retirement is not something that the team is focusing on. "It's not really anything we've talked about as a group," Tibbetts said. "Obviously, we know there is a chance this may be it. I think everyone wants to go on a run, not only for ourselves but mostly for her."
Collier was also a standout at Connecticut, winning the 2016 NCAA Tournament before being drafted with the sixth pick in 2019. Taurasi and Collier have won two Olympic golds together: at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and, most recently, at the 2024 Paris Games.
Collier was dominant in Minnesota's victory, dropping a career-high 38 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. The Lynx will have an opportunity to close out the series at home on Wednesday. If the Mercury win Game 2, the series finale will be held in Phoenix on Friday.
