Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Aug 4, 2023 1:24 am

Diana Taurasi’s milestone effort lifts Mercury over Dream

Diana Taurasi scored 42 points and became the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 career points as the host Phoenix Mercury routed the Atlanta Dream 91-71 on Thursday night.

Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer since 2017, entered the game 18 points short of the milestone and hit it after scoring the first eight points of the third quarter for the Mercury (7-19).

Taurasi, 41, produced a season-high point total for a third consecutive game, easily surpassing the 29 she scored against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, which eclipsed the 24 she scored against the Chicago Sky on Sunday.

Her point total was her highest since she had 44 against the Seattle Storm on July 14, 2010.

Cheyenne Parker had 20 points and seven rebounds before fouling out, Rhyne Howard scored 14 and Allisha Gray added 10 to lead the Dream (14-13).

Taurasi opened the third-quarter scoring by making a driving layup, then sank consecutive 3-pointers — the second of which gave her exactly 10,000 and increased Phoenix’s lead to 51-39 with 8:23 left in the period.

The Mercury hit a brief lull right after the historic basket, but Taurasi added 11 more points as they expanded their lead to 70-54 at the end of the period.

Taurasi missed a 3-point shot on her first-field goal attempt and the Dream scored the game’s first seven points. Taurasi made her second 3-point attempt for the Mercury’s first points, but Atlanta opened an 11-5 lead.

Phoenix scored the next 12 points, but the Dream followed with a closing 11-0 run to take a 22-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Taurasi sank a 7-footer to put Phoenix up 33-32. A three-point play from Taurasi increased the gap to six with one minute left, and the Mercury’s Megan Gustafson sank one of two free throws to send the hosts to the locker room with a 43-36 lead.

Phoenix led by as many as 18 points in the third.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

cleveland cavaliers
Dec 5, 2024 1:41 am

Top offenses collide as Cavaliers face Nuggets

The Cleveland Cavaliers seek their first three-game winning streak since starting the season 15-0 when they host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Cleveland improved the league’s best record (19-3) on…

Dylan Holloway
Dec 5, 2024 1:31 am

Thriving under new coach, Blues to face Flames next

The new-coach bump has the St. Louis Blues in the mix of the playoff fight. The Blues will look to continue their winning ways when they visit the Calgary Flames…

Kings, Stars
Dec 5, 2024 1:18 am

Kings rally past Stars to win fourth straight game

Warren Foegele scored early in the third period to cap the Los Angeles Kings’ 3-2 comeback victory over the visiting Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Foegele scored his seventh goal…

More News News

cleveland cavaliers
Dec 5, 2024 1:41 am

Top offenses collide as Cavaliers face Nuggets

The Cleveland Cavaliers seek their first three-game winning streak since starting the season 15-0 when they host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Cleveland improved the league’s best record (19-3) on…

Dylan Holloway
Dec 5, 2024 1:31 am

Thriving under new coach, Blues to face Flames next

Kings, Stars
Dec 5, 2024 1:18 am

Kings rally past Stars to win fourth straight game

Timberwolves, Clippers
Dec 5, 2024 1:01 am

Timberwolves bury Clippers early, stroll to victory

Azeez Al-Shaair, Texans
Dec 5, 2024 12:59 am

NFL denies Azeez Al-Shaair’s appeal of suspension

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds