Diana Taurasi is no stranger to breaking records but on Aug. 3rd against the Atlanta Dream she accomplished a feat no WNBA player has before. Already the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, Taurasi added to her legacy by becoming the first WNBA player to score 10,000 points in their career. To break the record, Taurasi needed just 18 points but she managed to accomplish the feat in style dropping a season high 42 points in a 91-71 win in front of a raucous Phoenix crowd.
Fittingly, her record breaking shot came from a long three point shot as she is already the all-time leader in made threes along with 40 point games where she is also the all-time leader. Her 42 point performance made her the oldest player to score points and joined elite company with Michael Jordan as the only player to score at least 40 points after turning 40.After the game, Taurasi acknowledged the crowd stating "I'm thankful that I've gotten this opportunity to do this in front of you guys for 19 years, and I'm really, really thankful for the game of basketball. It's what I love, it's my passion, it makes me feel good every single day."
To many, she is already considered the WNBA GOAT and is an icon in the basketball world. Taurasi's latest record setting achievement is just the icing on the cake for a career stacked with championship success and individual awards. At her peak, Taurasi was the most lethal scorer in the league such as when she was had the highest individual scoring average for a single season in WNBA history at 25.3 points per game in '06. She is at the point now where she is no longer making her case as the greatest WNBA player ever but now further separating herself from the field. With over 10,000 points scored Taurasi now has over 2,500 more points than the second all-time scorer in Hall of famer Tina Thompson.
In a season where the WNBA is arguably more popular than ever before Taurasi's record brings more attention to not only herself in celebration of her incredible basketball resume but also the WNBA as a whole. In the 27 year history of the WNBA there is arguably no bigger star than Diana Taurasi who's career started in 2004 as the #1 overall draft pick to the Phoenix Mercury. In her illustrious 19 years so far in the WNBA she has won 3 championships, named to 10 All-Star teams, and a WNBA MVP award in 2009. At 41 years of age, she still somehow has a lot left in the tank as she is the 12th leading scorer in the league at 18 points per game.
Source: Bleacher Report YouTube Channel
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