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"I wore 23 for MJ" - WNBA legend Diana Taurasi explains dropping iconic jersey number before college debut
Dating back to her days at UConn, Diana Taurasi has donned jersey No. 3. Ahead of a big-time matchup for the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces, the veteran guard explained how she got connected to the number.
During a recent interview, Taurasi touched on her jersey number. She said that growing up she wore various numbers in honor of her favorite players. Among those was Michael Jordan's iconic No. 23, which she wore during high school.
"I really was never married to a number," Taurasi said. "I wore 9 for Van Exel, I wore 32 for Magic, I wore 23 obviously for MJ."
When she got to college, Diana Taurasi tossed out different numbers to wear. However, UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanted her to wear No. 3 in honor of a New York Yankees legend.
"I'm like, all right, what number do you want me to wear?" Taurasi said. "He goes, I think you should wear Babe Ruth, No. 3, and I say, who the hell is Babe Ruth?"
Despite her initial skepticism, Taurasi put on the No. 3 and never looked back. Twenty years into her WNBA career, the 11-time All-Star can still be seen in the same number.
At the age of 42, Taurasi is still keeping her professional career alive. This season for the Mercury, she is averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists. While it was in a limited role, Taurasi also won her sixth gold medal with Team USA this summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Diana Taurasi named top WNBA player of the 21st century
Since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2004, Diana Taurasi has gone on to have a successful career in the WNBA and with Team USA. As she continues her two-decade-long run in the pros, she has received an impressive honor.
Earlier this summer, ESPN's Michael Voepel put together a ranking of the top 25 women's players of the 21st century. Coming in at the top spot was the Phoenix Mercury guard.
"Now, 22 years after that, she's still going at 42 as the oldest active player in the WNBA," Voepel wrote. "The only player in the league to hit 10,000 points, Taurasi has spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury and has led the WNBA in scoring five times.
"Playing in her sixth Olympics this summer, she is revered for her longtime leadership of Team USA as well as the Mercury, and for her unwavering swagger."
Aside from her six gold medals, Diana Taurasi's other accolades include being an 11-time All-Star, winning WNBA MVP in 2009 and leading the Mercury to a title on three separate occasions.
Other legends to appear in the top 10 include Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie. Taurasi is one of three active players in the top 10, with A'ja Wilson coming in at No. 8 and Breanna Stewart slotting in at No. 9.
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