The 41-year-old made the significant basket against the Atlanta Dream in the third quarter of a game. In Phoenix’s 91-71 triumph, she scored a season-high 42 points, bringing her total to 10,024.

In the world of basketball, Diana Taurasi is a legend, and on Thursday night, the “White Mamba” added yet another significant accomplishment to her long WNBA career.

When the 41-year-old made a deep 3-pointer in the third quarter of a game against the Atlanta Dream, she became the first player in WNBA history to reach the milestone of 10,000 points. In Phoenix’s 91-71 triumph, she scored a season-high 42 points, bringing her total to 10,024.

Taurasi has stated that she has always valued winning over accomplishments and records, just like the majority of the greatest athletes in any sport.

Taurasi said this after scoring 29 points in Tuesday night’s one-point loss to Indiana and adding, “I really don’t think about the number, I truly don’t. “I’ve always maintained that the only reason I’ve played basketball is because I enjoy it. The fact that I still enjoy playing and that this group continues to attend the gym every day is the only real reason I continue to go.

The group participates, but they do not succeed. It’s tough to ignore the impending milestone, even though Taurasi has been focused on attempting to save a losing season for the only WNBA team she has ever played for.

With 10,000 points, Taurasi outscored Tina Thompson, who finished in second place, by more than 2,500. Taurasi, who has a career scoring average of 19.1, had her first solid opportunity to reach the milestone Thursday night against Atlanta, and she nailed it.

“I want to send Diana my sincere congratulations on reaching the incredible milestone of 10,000 points as she continues to write new chapters in an illustrious WNBA career,” I said on behalf of the WNBA and basketball fans worldwide. In a statement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

“Diana’s success is a credit to her talent, tenacity, and unrelenting devotion to the sport, which, together with her competitive character, has enthralled fans with her amazing scoring prowess, clutch performances, and unmatched basketball intelligence. We are honoured to be present for this achievement.

The next closest active player on the list is DeWanna Bonner. The Connecticut Sun forward, who is almost 36 years old, is 3,300 points behind Taurasi.

In Phoenix for the first 10 years of her career, Taurasi and Bonner played together. “What she’s been able to do for such a long period of time has been truly incredible,” said Bonner. “I have personally witnessed how incredibly hard she works and what she has accomplished.”

Jewell Loyd, the current WNBA scoring leader, had 4,458 points over the course of a nine-year career. If she scored 20 points a game, it would take her 277 more games to reach the 10,000-point plateau. Despite the fact that the league has increased the number of games it plays each year to 40, Loyd believes she wouldn’t play for long enough to score a score of that many.

Taurasi doesn’t recall many of her scores, but the contest in which she beat Thompson’s record in 2017 will always hold a special place in her heart because it took place in her native Los Angeles and the late Kobe Bryant was present. With a layup, Taurasi shattered Thompson’s mark, and Bryant later called her “White Mamba” as a play on his nickname “Black Mamba.”

“I remember that because of where it was and who was there,” said Taurasi. “I’m way over 10,000 if you add up all the points I’ve earned abroad over the years.”

The significance of scoring her 10,000th WNBA point in front of a cheering home crowd at the Footprint Centre is not lost on Taurasi.

“When it happens, it will be a cool moment for our city, for our franchise,” she remarked. “Really for everyone who has stood by me for a very long time.”

Since she was selected first overall in the 2004 draught out of UConn, Taurasi has been the cornerstone of the Phoenix organisation. She not only holds the record for the most points scored in a career during the regular season, but also throughout the postseason. For the Mercury, she has won three WNBA championships and twice been named MVP of the Finals.

Nikki Blue, the interim Mercury coach, remarked, “We are getting to see greatness right in front of us.” “You take DT’s skill for granted. her behaviour for the previous 19 years. It’s quite great to be here to observe her in this situation. I hope everyone tunes in and enjoys the occasion. For a number of years, she has served as the face of our league and organisation.

The post The first WNBA player to 10,000 points is Diana Taurasi appeared first on .