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Monday 11 October 2021 10:42, UK
The WNBA announced that Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi has been voted by fans as the league's greatest of all time (GOAT).
The "Vote for the GOAT" platform was part of the WNBA's celebration of its landmark 25th season.
Taurasi was announced as the greatest player in WNBA history today prior to Game 1 of the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Sunday.
"Congratulations to Diana Taurasi on being voted as the Greatest WNBA player of all time by the fans who have followed her illustrious career and saw her rise above the rest," said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
"This well-deserved recognition reflects her sustained excellence on the court and her leading role in advancing the WNBA and women's basketball and being a role model for young athletes everywhere. The opportunity to honor Dee is yet another special moment in celebration of our historic 25th season."
Taurasi has etched her name across the WNBA's record books. She is the league's career leader in points, field goals made and three-point field goals made in both the regular season and the playoffs. Her 14 All-WNBA Team selections are the most in league history, and her 10 WNBA All-Star selections are tied for second place.
Playing her entire 17-year WNBA career with Phoenix, Taurasi has won three WNBA championships and two WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards. She has also earned one regular-season WNBA MVP award.
Taurasi was selected by the Mercury with the first overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She has career averages of 19.4 points, 4.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 472 games. Taurasi has led the WNBA in scoring five times and in assists once.
Fan voting to determine the GOAT was conducted on WNBA.com, the WNBA App and Twitter from Sept. 5-19. Fans were able to vote for any member of "The W25," the 25 greatest and most influential players in WNBA history, as selected by a panel of media members and women's basketball pioneers.
"The W25," which was unveiled on Sept. 5, includes 10 current players: Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Sylvia Fowles, Brittney Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi. Fifteen retired players are also among the honorees: Seimone Augustus, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Yolanda Griffith, Becky Hammon, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore, Ticha Penicheiro, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Smith, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson and Lindsay Whalen. For more information about "The W25," visit WNBA.com.
For being named the GOAT, Taurasi will receive a one-of-a-kind commemorative trophy, a basketball made of resin and marble, detailed with white mamba scales and inscriptions that recognize her accomplishments.
