Mercury retiring Taurasi's jersey, inducting her into Ring of Honor
The Phoenix Mercury will be retiring Diana Taurasi's No. 3 jersey and inducting her into the team's Ring of Honor during the 2026 WNBA season, the team announced Thursday.
"Diana is the greatest of all time. What she has done over the last 20 years is truly remarkable," Mercury owner Mat Ishbia said. "From championships to MVPs to gold medals, she is one of the most decorated athletes of all time and we're excited to celebrate all she's done for the sport, the franchise and our city with her induction into our Ring of Honor."
Taurasi announced her retirement from the WNBA on Feb. 25 after 20 seasons with the Mercury, the most seasons played in league history.
"There's just this pride of being from the Valley that's close to my heart because for the last 20 years, I've really grown up here," Taurasi said, according to The Associated Press' John Marshall.
Taurasi became a three-time WNBA champion with the franchise and is the league's all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points. She was a 14-time All-WNBA selection, 11-time All-Star, two-time Finals MVP, 2009 league MVP, and was voted in 2021 as the WNBA's Greatest Player of All Time.
Taurasi also won six Olympic gold medals with the U.S. national team.
"I did everything because I wanted to win - I wanted to compete and I wanted to win," Taurasi said. "I didn't do it for a little bit of fame, a little bit of money. I didn't do it for any of that. I did it literally to win and have the respect of the people around me."
The 42-year-old will be the sixth individual in Mercury history to have her jersey retired and join the Ring of Honor, joining Jennifer Gillom, Cheryl Miller, Bridget Pettis, Penny Taylor, and Michele Timms.
The Mercury kick off the 2025 WNBA season May 17 at home against the Seattle Storm.