"I'm Full and I'm Happy" — Diana Taurasi Retires After 20 Seasons as LeBron James, Caitlin Clark, and Vanessa Bryant Celebrate the GOAT

Diana Taurasi, the absolute GOAT of women's basketball, is officially retiring from the court after an unbelievable 20-year career with the Phoenix Mercury. The all-time leading scorer confirmed the news in an exclusive interview with Time on February 25, saying she just didn't have it in her to put on her sneakers for another season. That announcement by the 42-year-old was met with a flood of tributes from sports legends such as LeBron James and Caitlin Clark, insulating her legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game.


For Taurasi, the decision to step away wasn’t about injuries or declining performance—it was about knowing when she was truly “full.” The Mercury star, who usually starts training for the season on January 1, realized this year that she just didn’t feel the same drive.

“That was pretty much when I knew it was time to walk away,” After dominating the sport for two decades, Taurasi reflected on her journey with pride. “Mentally and physically, I’m just full,” she said. “That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”


As soon as the news broke, some of the biggest names in basketball took a moment to recognize Taurasi’s impact.
LeBron James, who has shared the court with Taurasi at multiple Olympic Games, called her one of the greatest to ever do it.
“Just seeing her transcend the game, watching little girls want to play like her, her style, her flair, her bravado, her swagger—it’s been an unbelievable treat,” LeBron told Time.
Caitlin Clark, one of the WNBA’s rising superstars, reacted with a simple yet powerful word on her Instagram story: “Legend.”
But perhaps the most emotional tribute came from Vanessa Bryant, who shared a video, calling Taurasi the “White Mamba,” a nickname given to her by the late Kobe Bryant. “Kobe called you the ‘White Mamba’ for a reason,” Vanessa said in the tribute.
“You’re a stone-cold killer on the court, who is fiercely competitive, and you changed the game for everyone.”

Now that her basketball career has finally come to an end, Taurasi is looking forward to a new chapter: family. She and her wife, Penny Taylor, have two children, and she is eager to experience those little everyday moments that she would have otherwise missed while competing.
“I really enjoy taking my kids to school, being home when they're home, not leaving for a week at a time,” she shared.
Still, even as she embraces retirement, Taurasi admits there are parts of the game she’ll miss deeply.
“I’m going to miss the competition. I’m going to miss trying to get better every single offseason. I’m going to miss the bus rides, shootarounds. I’m going to miss the inside jokes. I’m going to miss the locker room, the things that come with being on a basketball team.”
Diana Taurasi might be retiring, but will always be a legend. She opened the way for a generation, breaking records, and inspiring another wave of hoopers to greatness.
One thing is certain—there will never be another Diana Taurasi.
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