WNBA fans knew that this day was coming, but that doesn't make the news any easier.
Diana Taurasi officially retired from WNBA on Tuesday in an exclusive interview with TIME Magazine. The UConn product spent all 20 of her historic WNBA seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, the team that drafted her first overall in 2004.
This is a bittersweet day in the league's history that may cause some to reflect on just how much the W, and women's sports in general, have transformed over the two decades that Taurasi graced the sport.
Others took to social media to convey their various feelings about the news.
WNBA fans react to Diana Taurasi's retirement: Best memes and tweets
ESPN's Eric Moody chose to honor the legendary Taurasi in a tweet that highlighted the major accomplishments in her career.
The logo of the league has retired.
— Moody (@EricNMoody) February 25, 2025
Diana Taurasi's legacy is unmatched:
🏀 WNBA's all-time leading scorer (10,646 points)
🏆 3x WNBA champ (2007, 2009, 2014)
🎯 Most 3s in WNBA history
🎯 4th in assists
🥇 6 Olympic golds (most ever in basketball)
🌍 6 EuroLeague titles, 3… https://t.co/iafp9uzAoj
Rob Tiongson from The Podium Finish thanked Taurasi for her efforts both on and off the court.
What a terrific career and even more incredible legacy that Diana Taurasi will always be remembered for, on and off the court.
— Rob Tiongson (@RobTiongson) February 25, 2025
Thank you for everything you've done for the sport and for women's sports, DT.
📸 @DN_Creative_ | @ThePodiumFinish #WNBA | #NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/KSwn3uvOre
One fan even ranked the greatest Arizona professional athletes of all time and put Taurasi above some legendary company.
AZ Sports goats:
— Marc ✡︎ (@MGonGivItToYa) February 25, 2025
1. Diana Taurasi
2. Randy Johnson
3. Larry Fitzgerald
Other fans bragged about her loyalty to the Mercury organization, with the caveat that she played for a few clubs overseas as well.
We had Diana Taurasi and you didn’t.*
— No Escalators (@NoEscalators) February 25, 2025
*Post not applicable to Phoenix Mercury, a few Russian and Turkish clubs, and Don Antonio Lugo High School. https://t.co/QSP88c2kqB
Conspiracy theories are always fun, so one fan took the time to try and rationalize the news that Taurasi will enter retirement.
so basically there are 35 days until APRIL 1ST and you know what else is #35 … azzi. AND azzi’s name ends with an i. who else has a name that ends with an i?? DIANA TAURASI!! and dt loves to PLAY basketball. so in summary, dt is PLAYING an APRIL FOOLS joke that she’s retiring pic.twitter.com/yTqkFlSycz
— ria✧˖° (@love_wbb) February 25, 2025
Not every observer of the WNBA was a fan of Taurasi as her dominant performances over two decades left a sore spot with many franchises. On the date mentioned in the tweet, Taurasi scored 24 points and added five rebounds in a victory over the Seattle Storm.
oh diana taurasi. where do i even start? the hate in my heart is all because of you. ill never forget 5/14/22. goodbye 💙 pic.twitter.com/VILWemUzlC
— 007🕵🏾♀️ (@probablyatypo__) February 25, 2025
Some fans were sad about the news but maintained a sense of humor about it.
Diana Taurasi is officially retiring. We knew but still… the end of an era! 😫 pic.twitter.com/eg30m0GrJp
— The Rogue Princess. (@ShenaeCurry) February 25, 2025
Overall, the reception of her retirement announcement has been an outpouring of respect and admiration for all that she accomplished in her career. Taurasi left the league better than she found it, and maintained a sense of originality and authenticity throughout it all.
Not everyone was a fan, but it is important to remember that they love the good ones, and they hate the great ones.