How three former Phoenix Mercury coaches built a WNBA dynasty
Phoenix Mercury head coaches Paul Westhead, Corey Gaines and Sandy Brondello each won a WNBA championship while building a dynasty in the desert.
Diana Taurasi’s 20-year WNBA career is coming to an end, but will it happen this season?
The Phoenix Mercury’s social media accounts have fueled the rumors with several posts claiming that if that’s it, Taurasi only has one more guaranteed game in Phoenix in her career: Thursday’s final regular-season game against the Seattle Storm.
Taurasi will finish the final year of her two-year contract this season and will be a free agent, which adds even more fuel to the fire.
Taurasi answered a question about the social media posts in the press conference following the Sept. 13 game against the Connecticut Sun.
“As an athlete, you think you can write the ending, but sometimes it happens,” Taurasi said. “I’m just focused on what happens tomorrow, what this team has to do to get to the playoffs. We have it in us, so all of my energy and attention is going to that and making sure we’re on track.”
However, not everyone has accepted the possible retirement.
“She’ll be out when I retire,” Brittney Griner said.
Taurasi confirmed at this conference that she would not organize a farewell tour in the event of her retirement.
“If I go, don’t we all just go?” Taurasi said.
After Tuesday’s win in Los Angeles, Taurasi told reporters she was unsure about her future. Taurasi had 13 points and five assists against the Sparks, but did not play in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t know. The last few weeks have been a little nerve-racking for me,” Taurasi said. “I don’t want to make any emotional or hasty decisions. I know the end is near. When that will be, I don’t know. I’ve always been a person who just focuses on what’s next. That’s practice and then Seattle on Thursday.”
“When the season is over, I will reflect and seek advice from the people who are dear to me and have been with me since day one. You never know, but who knows.”
After spending all 20 seasons of her WNBA career in Phoenix, Taurasi is happy that the Mercury organization is letting her finish her career.
“I’m grateful that they can have these conversations and let me do it the way I want to do it,” Taurasi said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people and someone once told me that sometimes you can’t choose your ending. When it’s over, it’s over. Twenty years later or whatever it may be, it’s been a fun journey.”
The Mercury (19-20) are headed to the playoffs and will likely play as the seventh seed against the second-seeded Minnesota Lynx (30-9), but must win a game in Minnesota to return home in the best-of-three series.
The Indiana Fever (20-19) have a one-game lead over the Mercury and are the sixth seed. They have the tiebreaker after winning the season series against the Mercury. The Fever will likely face the Connecticut Sun (27-12) or the Las Vegas Aces (26-13). The Aces have the tiebreaker against the Sun.
Even though the playoff picture is becoming clearer, the Mercury have won two games in a row, which is boosting the team’s confidence heading into the playoffs.
The team struggled after the Olympic break and had to play without starter Rebecca Allen, who suffered a thigh strain at the Olympics. Top scorer Kahleah Copper has missed the last three games because of a back injury.
The Mercury have played 11 games this season with a fully healthy starting lineup consisting of Natasha Cloud, Taurasi, Allen, Copper and Griner.
The Storm (24-15) lost to the Aces on Tuesday, dropping Seattle to No. 5 and ending its four-game winning streak. The Storm are 3-8 on the road against playoff teams.
Seattle had to play without top scorer Jewell Loyd (right knee) and top defender Ezi Magbegor (concussion) in the last two games.
