Diana Taurasi was nicknamed the “White Mamba” by Kobe Bryant for a reason: greatness recognizes greatness.

There’s no doubt that DT is currently the best women’s basketball player in the history of the game. You don’t even have to look at her stats to confirm that. Just look at her trophy case, which is fuller than a dad driving a Mini Cooper to take his kids to school. She’s home to three NCAA championships, two NCAA Tournament MVPs, WNBA Rookie of the Year, three WNBA championships, one regular season MVP, two WNBA Finals MVPs and six – yes, six – gold medals. And that’s the CliffsNotes version.

Arguing over her place in the game’s pantheon would be pointless at best and downright insane at worst. The question in the Valley is: Is she simply the greatest female athlete in Phoenix sports history?

The only answer is Diana Taurasi

Some will hold Charles Barkley to blame, but – and this is coming from an admittedly Sir Charles fan – he only won one MVP and one Western Conference championship while spending just four seasons in the Valley before asking to leave. Sure, his time was special and gave us memories that will forever be etched in our brains, but he lacked the longevity and all-around success required to be the greatest.

Steve Nash had the longest lifespan between his two stints in the Valley, collecting more trophies – at least personally – than Barkley did with his back-to-back MVP titles, but he never made it past the Western Conference Finals. For that reason, it’s hard to put him at the top of the mountain.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner falls into the Barkley category – great player, great guy and great memories, but his time in the Valley was limited, as was his long-term success.

Jake Plummer’s final season at ASU was magical, but it was only one year and ended in a crushing loss to David Boston and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Not worthy of the “Greatest of All Time” award.

The Arizona Diamondbacks boast the state’s only other championship in a major professional sport, led by Luis Gonzalez. Like Plummer, he had a magical season. The problem was that he couldn’t sustain it for long, and he didn’t win any individual awards.

Randy Johnson was another big reason for the Diamondbacks’ victory. His resume is impressive. World Series title, World Series co-MVP, five All-Star game appearances, four Cy Young Awards, and a perfect game in 8 seasons. While his accolades and accomplishments speak for themselves, he only helped Arizona to three playoff appearances and had a postseason record of 5-3. While the 2001 run was probably the best single playoff run and his World Series heroics are legendary, that’s not enough to be the #1 player of all time.

Larry Fitzgerald can see the top of the mountain. His career spanned 17 seasons, all in the Valley. His numbers make him undoubtedly one of the best wide receivers in NFL history – and considering the quarterbacks he played with, maybe the best – and he was the most successful the Cardinals franchise ever had in the desert. But he was never voted MVP, never won a Super Bowl or NCAA championship, and never finished above No. 7 on the NFL’s top 100 list. Larry is a legend by any measure, but is he the GOAT?

There is one athlete who checks all the boxes: longevity, individual accolades, championships, and an intense passion for Phoenix. That’s right, Diana Taurasi and her signature bun have been a mainstay in Phoenix for over two decades. She has won three championships and numerous awards, has the most points in league history, and her silhouette is even the league’s logo. And all this while being the heart and soul of the franchise the entire time.

While this is the end for DT, we were all privileged to witness greatness at the highest level from an athlete who changed her sport and the lives of young athletes forever. The Phoenix Mercury would not be the same without her, but the league, the Valley and basketball would not be the same without her.

Big names may recognize big things, but it’s time for the entire Valley to recognize what Diana Taurasi meant, because she may just be gone for the first time since 2004.