The White Mamba’s Impact

Diana Taurasi, better known as the White Mamba, has been the face of the WNBA for the last 20 years. Her achievements stretch from being the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history to being a six-time Olympic gold medalist. As such, she sent shockwaves through the WNBA on February 25 after announcing her impending retirement. Many are taking this time to appreciate and reflect on her stellar career.

Taurasi was no stranger to the demands of the league, playing as a point guard and shooting guard at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in her college days. Her time there was well spent; she led her team to an NCAA three-peat, winning the championship in 2002, 2003, and 2004, whilst also receiving multiple awards in the process. Namely, in both 2003 and 2004, Taurasi earned the most prestigious award in college basketball: Naismith College Player of the Year. In addition to this, she also won the 2003 Wade Trophy, the 2003 and 2004 Honda Sports Award, and the 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year. Her remarkable achievements at UConn paved the way for her various achievements and illustrious career in the WNBA.

Taurasi was the first overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. She joined the Phoenix Mercury, where she stayed for the entirety of her career—an incredible 21 years. Her rookie season was beyond successful; Taurasi was selected for the Western Conference All-Star team and was the WNBA Rookie of the Year. Her 2005 season was also a success—she made it to the All-Star team for the second year in a row. In 2006, Taurasi led the league in points and earned a spot on the All-Star team for a third year straight; she also set a WNBA record with 121 three-pointers scored in a single season—a record that was only broken 17 years later in 2023 by Caitlin Clark. Taurasi went straight to the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and she brought home two Olympic gold medals for the United States. 

Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury won three WNBA championships—2007, 2009, and 2014. Her 2007 win made her one of seven players to boast a NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold medal. In 2009, she was named both the WNBA MVP and WNBA Finals MVP following her defeat of the Indiana Fever to secure the Phoenix Mercury’s second WNBA championship. In 2014, the Mercury defeated the Chicago Sky, earning Taurasi her third championship and second WNBA Finals MVP title.

For the next 10 years of her career, Taurasi continued to dominate the court. In the WNBA 2016 playoffs, Taurasi made her 113th career three-pointer in the finals, becoming the all-time WNBA leader in playoff career three-pointers. In 2018, Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers and score 8,000 points; she was the league’s all-time leader in field goals. In 2021, she became the oldest player in league history to score an over 30-point game. She left the league at 42 years old, making her the oldest player in WNBA history. 

Turasi’s impact is undeniable. Her nickname, “White Mamba,” was coined by Basketball Hall of Famer and shooting guard Kobe Bryant. Bryant, who was a profound supporter of the WNBA, recognized Taurasi’s grit and fierceness in the game. Her relentless and strong work ethic was similar to his own, prompting him to give her an ode to his own nickname “Black Mamba.”

Taurasi has also impacted—and continues to influence—the new and future generation of WNBA players. Caitlin Clark, shooting guard of the Indiana Fever and former shooting guard of the Iowa Hawkeyes, has regarded Taurasi as the first player she idolized. Together, Taurasi and Clark have dominated women's basketball, with Taurasi giving Clark helpful advice; Taurasi advised Clark that she would need a period of adjustment into the WNBA league, which proved to be true. When Taurasi announced her retirement, Clark posted a single word on Instagram: “Legend.” Taurasi’s relationship with Clark highlights Taurasi’s significance as a role model—she has set an example for young girls all over the world.

Taurasi’s post-retirement plans are simple: she wants to spend more time with her family. She and her wife, former teammate Penny Taylor, have been married since 2017. The two are raising a happy family with two kids. Taurasi values the time she spends with her family, saying that the most important part of her day is the time spent with them, which played a role in her decision to retire.

Diana Taurasi’s legacy in the WNBA and basketball as a whole is one that is decorated with unparalleled accomplishments, making her impact on women’s basketball like no other. She has paved the way for future leaders in the sport, proving that nothing is impossible.