Add it to the list of milestones for the WNBA’s All-Time Scoring Leader.
Diana Taurasi is now the first player in league history to break 10,000 career points.
“It’s pushing the limits,” Taurasi said. “When you love something and you’re passionate about something, you push the limits…It’s not my record, it’s not my number. It’s gonna be a number that will be broken at one point by someone that loves basketball as much as I did. Willing to give up moments that you take for granted for moments that are legendary.”
There’s no doubt Taurasi smelled blood in the water and wanted to deliver for the X-Factor, as she finished with 42 points on 12 of 21 shooting (her fourth 40+ point regular season game, which is now a record for most career 40-point regular season games.)
How’s she celebrating? She let us in on those plans as well:
When Diana Taurasi reached 9k career points on June 27, 2021, she said:
“I guess I’ll be happy if I get to 10,000. That’s when I’ll really be happy and celebrate; I might even throw myself a party. But 9,000, I just feel like there’s a lot of work to be done.”I asked her what… pic.twitter.com/tOJgyltVHe
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 4, 2023
After the game, Taurasi was showered with loving messages from mentors, friends, and family.
She also received a few gifts before taking the microphone herself:
“I’m really thankful to the game of basketball. It’s my love. It’s my passion…I can’t wait for the good things to come – not only for this team, but for the WNBA in the future.”
Diana Taurasi addresses the crowd after breaking 10,000 career points:@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/Jvfu9lMyQd
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 4, 2023
Not only was it a historic performance, but a much-needed win for the Mercury.
Fellow UConn Husky in Moriah Jefferson was the player who passed her the ball in that moment…just like Jefferson wanted:
“I was a baby for most of [her scoring]😂… of course I want to be the one to pass [Diana] the ball but I’ll be just as happy if it’s someone else.”
– #Mercury Moriah Jefferson (@_BonnBonn)@Sports360AZ— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 4, 2023
“She has such a fire about her and the killer instinct,” Basketball Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale said. “She just wants the win…and she knows it’s a team effort.”
Taurasi and the crew are staying home to host the Storm on Saturday at 7 pm.
Extra sights and sounds from “10k Day”:
Beautiful moments for Diana Taurasi with her team & parents:@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/tykEh31ueS
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 4, 2023
Phoenix gets a much-needed win behind 42 points from Diana Taurasi (12/21 FG, 6 three-pointers) as she breaks 10,000 career points.@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/NJM4cVl8mu
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 4, 2023
#MercuryMinute with @AnnMeyers ahead of Diana Taurasi reaching 10k points:
🏀What Taurasi’s 10k means for women’s basketball
🩹How to snap #Mercury 4-game skid
⚖️Balancing “win now” & looking toward the future@Sports360AZ#WNBATwitter #ValleyTogether pic.twitter.com/kR6zGrx9Cl— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) August 4, 2023
