Ben York Writes

Retro Article (Magazine): Passion Play - Diana Taurasi

September 5, 2009. 7:28 p.m. US Airways Center, Phoenix.
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi hits a step-back jumper. It yields just her sixth and seventh points of this game, but in the big picture, the 4,000 and 4,001st of her career. With that basket, Taurasi became the fastest player in WNBA history to 4,000 points, and she’s not even aware of it. Not surprising, though—she didn’t know she was the fastest player to 3,000 points. Or that she was the only WNBA player to score 800 points or more in a single season (which she has done twice). Or that she has more 30-point games than any other player in league history.
She doesn’t keep track of those accolades because they mean nothing to her. Not now, not ever. Tonight, the Mercury’s lead against the Atlanta Dream is dissipating. Nothing else matters more to Diana Taurasi than this exact moment. Holding on to this game is, literally, the only thing on her mind.
Winning, that’s what matters. That’s what drives Diana Taurasi. Not personal honors or individual achievements. Just plain old wins.
“Ehh,” says Taurasi as she shrugs off the attention she receives for passing the 4,000-point milestone after the 100-82 Mercury victory. “I’m not really one for individual records.”
Humble, yet never satisfied.