After retiring from a legendary career in February, Diana Taurasi received the Icon Award alongside former USWNT star Alex Morgan at the 2025 ESPYs on Wednesday night.
“Whatever you do in life, you want to leave it in betters hands,” she said on the red carpet. “I think myself and everyone in the last 20 years that loved the WNBA put everything into it. I think we see the growth now.”
Taurasi is arguably the greatest women’s basketball player ever. In four years at UConn, she won three national championships
and was a three-time All-American. The No. 1 pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft, she spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury, won three championships, claimed the 2009 MVP and went to 11 All-Star games. She’s also the only basketball player ever to capture six Olympic gold medals. Along with the trophies, Taurasi finished as the WNBA’s all-time scoring leader.
But now that it’s done, she’s enjoying retirement.
“I don’t miss one thing... It was time,” Taurasi said on the red carpet, before agreeing that she could still drop 40 points on anyone.
Aside from Taurasi, UConn didn’t come home with any other awards at the ESPYs. While most of the players and a few coaches from the 2025 national championship were in attendance, they were beaten out in the “Best Team” category by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Ready for the ESPYS! pic.twitter.com/uBzuAYV2Ns
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) July 16, 2025
In “Best WNBA Player”, both Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart lost out to Caitlin Clark. Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin claimed “Best Record-Breaking Performance” after setting the NHL’s regular season goal-scoring mark over Geno Auriemma, who became the winningest coach in college basketball history in November.
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- Breaking down Liam McNeeley’s fit with the Charlotte Hornets
- Caleb Shpur named 2025 Division I Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner
