WNBA superstar and future Hall of Famer Diana Taurasi is retiring from basketball.
The six-time Olympic gold medalist decided that, after two 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, it is time for her to stop away from the hard court.
In an exclusive interview with TIME’s Sean Gregory, the 42-year-old opened up about her decision and reflected on her decorated career.
‘As a little kid, being a kid of immigrants coming to this country, basketball always made me feel a part of something,’ she shared. ‘It always made me feel comfortable. It brought me to a place where, you know, I could love others. I could love myself. It really is, to me, the one thing that always loved me back.’
‘Mentally and physically, I’m just full,’ Taurasi added. ‘That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.’
The league’s all-time leading scorer brought home three championships in her 20 years with the Phoenix Mercury, who drafted her first overall after she led the UConn to three collegiate titles.
In the TIME interview, Taurasi said she “just didn’t have it in me,” ending long-standing speculation over when she would call time on her career.
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