Diana Taurasi, who is in her 20th WNBA season, did not officially announce her retirement Thursday night after the Phoenix Mercury’s final regular-season game against the Seattle Storm. But the Mercury icon hinted in her address to the home crowd that her end could be imminent.

“If it’s the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said as the crowd chanted “one more year.”

“I love you guys.”

Taurasi played 18 minutes on Thursday as the Mercury lost 89-70 to the Storm. She scored nine points, added one rebound and two assists. With 3:11 left in the fourth quarter, fans at the Footprint Center stood up and called for Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts to bring Taurasi back into the game. The first-year coach complied. Taurasi returned to the game, blew a kiss and clapped for the crowd, who showered her with cheers.

It was a 10-second curtain call for Mercury fans to show their appreciation for a historic player in what could be her final home game. As Taurasi left the field, fans chanted, “One more year.”

Diana Taurasi is back and the crowd is enjoying every second of it 🥹

SEA-PHX | League Pass 📱 pic.twitter.com/MIaFPkvB0g

— WNBA (@WNBA) 20 September 2024

When the match ended, the lights in the seating areas dimmed while Taurasi stood in the spotlight at center court. Before she addressed the crowd, a tribute video for Taurasi played on the screen above. It was the same video that the Mercury social media account posted on X on Thursday afternoon, hinting at a possible announcement of her retirement.

Taurasi thanked the city of Phoenix, a place she called “home,” and praised her teammates and coaches, as well as the fans who supported her career.

Dear Dee –

Love,
We all pic.twitter.com/SnO1q10Fdp

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) 19 September 2024

“I want to thank every single coach, every single player, every single person that has put on a WNBA jersey because it takes a whole village,” Taurasi said. “For everyone who played before this league that is now where it is – we are grateful for you and we are grateful for the next generation.”

Several high-profile athletes and coaches attended what may be Taurasi’s final game, including four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird, world champion and Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, UConn coach Geno Auriemma, UConn coach Chris Dailey, Phoenix Suns shooting guard Damion Lee, small forward Josh Okogie and Taurasi’s parents Mario and Lilliana.

If Taurasi’s WNBA career were to end on Thursday, she would leave the sport with a jam-packed resume. She has won three championships, is the league’s all-time leading scorer, won six gold medals with Team USA and appeared in the WNBA All-Star Game 11 times. Her records include being the first WNBA player to score 10,000 career points, being the oldest player in the NBA or WNBA to score 40 points in a game and her total points (10,646 points).

The Mercury made the playoffs after missing the playoffs last year for the first time in a decade, but Thursday night was about Taurasi, her likely departure and a chance for the Phoenix crowd to celebrate one of the franchise’s most accomplished players.

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(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)