Diana Taurasi Named Western Conference Player of the Week

Three-time WNBA Champion Diana Taurasi was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for May 29-June 4, the WNBA announced today.  For Taurasi, it’s the 20th Weekly honor of her career, which is the second-most in league history behind Tina Charles and Tamika Catchings, both of whom have 22.

Taurasi earned the award after leading the Mercury to a 1-1 record in the team’s last two road games in Chicago and New York.  The Mercury guard made history in Phoenix’s 99-91 win over the Sky on Thursday, June 1, and finished the week averaging 27.0 points, 3.5 assists and six made three-pointers in the two games.

On Thursday in Chicago, Taurasi scored a game-high 37 points, the most points she’s scored in a game since scoring 39 on June 18, 2010, and dished four assists in the win.  Additionally, the sharpshooter knocked down eight three-pointers, which tied for the most three-pointers made in a game in WNBA history; eight made three-pointers has been done four times, three of which were by Taurasi.  With her first three-pointer of the night, Taurasi became the league’s all-time leader in made three-pointers, surpassing Katie Smith.  She now stands at 914 made three-pointers in her career.  In her quest to become the league’s all-time leading scorer, Taurasi also passed Catchings in Chicago for second place on the all-time list and now only trails Tina Thompson by 73 points as the all-time leader.

On Sunday at New York, Taurasi followed up her record-setting performance with 17 points, three assists and four rebounds.  Despite the Mercury loss, she shot 50-percent (six-of-12) from the field and was four-of-five (80-percent) from three-point range.

Get a front-row seat for history this summer! Diana Taurasi is only 73 points shy of becoming the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, as she attempts to lead the Mercury to a WNBA-record tying fourth championship.  Tickets for the Mercury’s next home game on Saturday, June 10, and the remaining 12 regular-season Mercury home games can be purchased by calling 602.252.WNBA or by visiting PhoenixMercury.com.