Mercury's Taurasi's Vintage Performance Revisited

Diana Taurasi was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in 2004 and concluded her final season in 2024, maintaining career averages of 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Throughout her tenure, she delivered standout performances against various opponents, including a historic game against the Atlanta Dream where she scored 42 points and surpassed the 10,000-point milestone, solidifying her status as the WNBA's all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points.

Among the teams she faced were defunct franchises like the Charlotte Sting, an original league team that folded in 2007 after a final season in 2006 with an 11-23 record. Although Taurasi had limited games against them due to conference differences, she made memorable contributions in her early years. In her first encounter, she recorded 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists, followed by a 29-point game later in the 2004 season and additional strong showings in 2006 with 27 and 25 points.

Her best performance against the Charlotte Sting came in a 71-59 victory where she scored 29 points, along with eight assists and seven rebounds, leading the Mercury as the top scorer. This game, which also featured teammates Anna DeForge with 18 points and Plenette Pierson with 10 points, marked her season and career high at the time, showcasing her scoring prowess and hinting at her future impact in the league.