Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated players in basketball history, has announced her retirement after 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury.

The three-time WNBA champion and six-time Olympic gold medalist said she made the decision after realizing she no longer had the drive to prepare for another year of competition.

“I just didn’t have it in me,” Taurasi told Time magazine in an exclusive interview. “That was pretty much when I knew it was time to walk away.”

Her retirement closes the book on one of the most dominant careers in professional basketball. Taurasi retires as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and the league’s record holder for three-pointers made. She is also widely credited with helping elevate the sport’s visibility on a global scale.

What Is Diana Taurasi’s Net Worth?

Taurasi’s basketball success has translated to financial success. The all-star has an estimated net worth of $3 million to $4 million, with taxes and expenses included.

Taurasi was drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2004. Since the WNBA’s salaries have changed significantly over the years—particularly with successive collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)—her year-by-year earnings evolved as seen in the table below. The amounts are approximations based on maximum salary data, press releases and reported contracts.

From 2017 to 2024, Taurasi earned about $1.4 million in total salary, Spotrac reported. While her earnings grew significantly in recent seasons, earlier in her career, WNBA salaries were much lower than they are today.

Like many WNBA players, Taurasi played overseas in the offseason to supplement her income, as international leagues offered far higher salaries.

Taurasi’s largest single-season paychecks came from overseas clubs—primarily in Russia, where top women’s basketball talent can earn substantially more than in the WNBA. While these figures are typically reported by major sports outlets, they are not officially confirmed by the teams themselves, and many deals are private.

In 2015, Taurasi famously accepted $1.5 million from UMMC Ekaterinburg to sit out the WNBA season, a deal that paid more than 10 times her U.S. salary.

Taurasi has also had affiliations with sports companies such as Nike, for which top-tier endorsements can range from $100,000 to $250,000 per year. She has also had guest spots on sports shows.

Taken together, Taurasi’s total career earnings—combining WNBA, international play and endorsements—could exceed $10 million over her playing years. Once taxes, living expenses and other factors are considered, this explains why sites such as Marca, EssentiallySports and Celebrity Net Worth estimate her net worth to be about $3.5 million.

While Taurasi is stepping away from competition, opportunities in broadcasting, coaching or front-office positions could add to her wealth in the coming years.

Career Outside of the WNBA

Taurasi’s WNBA dominance is well documented, but her achievements outside the league are equally impressive. She became an international superstar, winning six EuroLeague titles while playing in Russia and Turkey, and she led the UConn Huskies to three consecutive NCAA championships from 2002 to 2004.

Her long list of accolades includes these:

• Three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014)
• Six Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)
• Six EuroLeague titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016)
• 2009 WNBA MVP
• Two-time WNBA Finals MVP
• Three-time EuroLeague MVP
• Three-time Russian League Player of the Year.

“I have a résumé,” Taurasi told Time. “It’s not up to me to grade it.”

Highest Paid WNBA Players

While Taurasi was among the highest-paid players of her time, salaries in the WNBA have risen significantly in recent years.

According to NBC DFW, these were the 10 highest-paid WNBA players for the 2024 season:

1. Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces) — $252,420
2. Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm) — $245,508
3. Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury) — $245,059
4. Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings) — $241,984
5. Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) — $234,936
6. Natasha Howard (Dallas Wings) — $224,675
7. Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever) — $222,154
8. Brionna Jones (Connecticut Sun) — $212,000
9. Skylar Diggins-Smith (Seattle Storm) — $211,343
10. Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) — $209,000

While these salaries reflect progress, they remain a fraction of NBA salaries, prompting many players to compete in European and other international leagues for additional income.