What is the net worth of Diana Taurasi? Career earnings and more explored as WNBA legend announces retirement

After spending 20 years of her WNBA career with Phoenix Mercury, Diana Taurasi has decided to hang up the boots. She announced her retirement via a Time Magazine interview on February 25, 2025.

Taurasi was among the highest-paid athletes in the Women's National Basketball Association. She renewed her longstanding contract with Mercury in 2023. The contract renewal earned her around $234,936 in each of her last two seasons. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the former basketball player’s net worth is estimated at around $3.5 million.

Diana earned approximately $1,150,480 in WNBA. At the same time, endorsements from Bodyarmor, Cox Communications, Nike, and more also contributed to her fortune. She also played for overseas teams until 2017. In 2015, she famously accepted an offer of $1.5 million (approx 15 times her then-WNBA salary) from UMMC Ekaterinburg to sit out of the basketball league in the US.

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Phoenix Mercury and other WNBA teams react after Diana Taurasi retires as the all-time leading scorer

Diana Taurasi scripted history in June 2017 when she became the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA. Tina Thompson previously held the record at 7,488 points. Kobe Bryant, the NBA icon who is a subject of Kobe: The Making of a Legend, also acknowledged Diana Taurasi from the crowd. After reaching the feat, Taurasi continued for seven more seasons and retired at 10,646 points.

Diana also boasts two WNBA Finals MVP titles, one WNBA MVP win, Rookie of the Year (2004), and many other individual achievements.

Talking to Time Magazine, Diana revealed the reason behind her retirement,

“I just didn’t have it in me. That was pretty much when I knew it was time to walk away.”

She further explained,

“Mentally and physically, I’m just full. That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full, and I’m happy.”

She concluded her conversation with the magazine by reiterating,

“I’m definitely retired. I’m going to miss the competition. I'm going to miss trying to get better every single offseason. I'm going to miss the bus rides, shootarounds. I'm going to miss the inside jokes. I'm going to miss the locker room, the things that come with being on a basketball team. All those things, I'll deeply miss.”

After the news of Diana Taurasi’s retirement broke out, many notable personalities gave their reaction. Mat Ishbia, the owner of Phoenix Mercury and Suns, called Taurasi was quoted saying,

“Diana is the greatest to have ever played the game. I’ve been a fan of her my entire life, she is the ultimate leader and teammate. She’s had an incredible impact on our franchise, our community and the game of basketball. Her name is synonymous with the Phoenix Mercury and she will forever be part of our family.”

Mercury and Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein highlighted how Taurasi remained the “face of the Mercury and women’s basketball for 20 years.” He further appreciated the legendary player for “revolutionizing” the game. Nick U’Ren, Vince Kozar, and Jim Pitman, other influential figures within Mercury's administration, also lauded Taurasi for her accomplished career.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley, USA Basketball Chairperson Gen. Martin Dempsey, and many others shared their congratulatory messages. Other WNBA teams and fans also sent their "happy retirement" wishes to Diana Taurasi on X.

Other WNBA stars like Sue Bird, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and more sent their best wishes to Diana Taurasi. LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, also commented on Diana’s retirement in a statement given to Time Magazine:

“Just seeing her transcend the game, watching little girls want to play like her, her style, her flair, her bravado, you know, her swagger, it's been an unbelievable treat. She's one of the all-time greatest, and she will leave her mark on the game of basketball the moment she ties those shoes up and throws them over the pole line. It's been an honor. All love.”

Diana is the first and only WNBA player to reach 10,000 points. Besides the all-time points leaderboard, Taurasi has six Olympic gold medals, three WNBA rings, and 11 All-Star appearances in 20 years.