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

Kenneth Walker III
Dec 7, 2024 5:38 pm

Seahawks will be without RB Kenneth Walker III (calf) vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks ruled out leading rusher Kenneth Walker III from Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a calf injury. Walker was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury…

Chris Jans
Dec 7, 2024 5:10 pm

Mississippi State set to face lowly Prairie View A&M

Mississippi State is looking for its second straight win as struggling Prairie View A&M heads to Starkville, Miss., for a Sunday afternoon showdown. The Bulldogs (7-1) fell out of the…

lsu basketball
Dec 7, 2024 5:06 pm

FGCU faces LSU team not afraid of comebacks

LSU has made a habit of playing its best in the second half. The Tigers (7-1) are 5-0 in games in which they have trailed at halftime as they prepare…

More News News

Kenneth Walker III
Dec 7, 2024 5:38 pm

Seahawks will be without RB Kenneth Walker III (calf) vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks ruled out leading rusher Kenneth Walker III from Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a calf injury. Walker was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury…

Chris Jans
Dec 7, 2024 5:10 pm

Mississippi State set to face lowly Prairie View A&M

lsu basketball
Dec 7, 2024 5:06 pm

FGCU faces LSU team not afraid of comebacks

Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 7, 2024 5:04 pm

Lignthing’s offense poised for ‘good test’ vs. Canucks

Iowa, Michigan
Dec 7, 2024 4:51 pm

Michigan wins seventh straight, edging Iowa 85-83

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds