Mercury star Diana Taurasi 'really excited' about 20th WNBA season, team's new additions

Entering her 20th season in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi is excited to be back with the Phoenix Mercury as they concluded training camp in San Diego today.

Showcasing her love for basketball every time she steps foot on the court means so much to her and her burning passion will reach two decades professionally.

While some may question whether her desire is fading a tick because she is 42 years old, Taurasi is as energetic and joyous as she has been to do what she loves.

“I feel great,” Taurasi said. “I love preparing for the season, I love competing, I love the group that we put together, I feel really good.”

Going through training camp will bring some challenges along the way as everyone is trying to learn and be acquainted with one another.

Even though her role on the team is cemented from the first game onward, Taurasi still gives it her all and emphasizes that building relationships during the camp will only boost confidence in everyone on the team.

“It’s always great, every year is a different journey and I think that is the best thing about being in a team sport,” Taurasi said. “It’s always different, new faces. The goal is always the same though. It starts with Day 1 trying to build that chemistry, and finding what you are as a team.”

In the offseason, the Mercury made multiple acquisitions either via trade, the draft, or in free agency. The Mercury signed Natasha Cloud in free agency, traded for Kahleah Copper, Morgan Bertsch and Rebecca Allen and drafted Charisma Osborne and Jaz Shelley.

When asked about how she feels about the major additions of Copper and Cloud, Taurasi knows what both can bring to Phoenix.

“I am really excited, I have known Tash for a long time competing against her and she has always been one of my favorites to play against,” Taurasi said. “There are certain people you know compete a certain way no matter what the score is, no matter how their season’s going and she is one of those players. To bring that energy to our team and bring that type of competitiveness, I think it is going to move the needle for us.

“Kah is so dynamic. There are not many players like her in the world at her size. What she can do offensively and defensively. Got to know her pretty well through USA Camp. There is a certain seriousness about her that is scary for everyone else and I like it.”

With Taurasi, Copper, Cloud and Brittney Griner on the same team, Phoenix is starting to garner high expectations as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 9-31 season last year.

As the 2024 season is fast approaching, Taurasi knows what is up for grabs and is confident the roster can reach their goals if they set their minds to them.

“It’s up to us,” Taurasi said. “We know how the WNBA season goes, it comes really quickly. You have to find a way to forge these relationships and this chemistry very quickly.”

On May 7, the Mercury take on the Seattle Storm in Seattle in the first preseason game at 7 p.m. PT.