Mercury great Diana Taurasi admits being 'sad' over retirement - ESPN

PHOENIX — Last week, former Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi was about to board a flight to New York when her 7-year-old son, Leo, asked: «Is retirement sad?»

For the next four hours, Taurasi contemplated the question.

«It is sad,» Taurasi said Thursday afternoon during her retirement news conference at the Mercury's practice facility in downtown Phoenix. «I am sad. I don't show it. I am. I don't like to outwardly show my sadness, but I am sad. It's the game that I played since I was 7.

»It's all the things that in life I always love to do. And that was to play the game of basketball."

Taurasi spoke publicly for the first time since announcing her retirement on Feb. 25 after 20 seasons with the Mercury. Earlier Thursday, the Mercury announced that Taurasi's No. 3 would be retired next summer, when she'll also be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.

Taurasi's jersey will hang in the rafters alongside jerseys of Cheryl Miller, Jennifer Gillom, Bridget Pettis, Michele Timms and Penny Taylor — who is also Taurasi's wife.

«Diana is the greatest of all time,» team owner Mat Ishbia said Thursday. «What she has done over the last 20 years is truly remarkable. From championships to MVPs to gold medals, she is one of the most decorated athletes of all time and we're excited to celebrate all she's done for the sport, the franchise and our city with her induction into our Ring of Honor.»

Tauarasi added: "[Ishbia] just really makes you want to really represent this city and this club and this franchise. He has such love and admiration and it's really nice to feel that after you've put in so much work, and I mean the names up there are just legends that I looked up to. Got to share the court with, won championships with, and