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WNBA Playoffs | Lynx Move Diana Taurasi Closer to Possible Retirement

If she does not yet know, at 42, when she will retire, Diana Taurasi knows, however, that from now on, a new defeat will mean the end of the season. Because the WNBA legend, despite her 21 points, and her Mercury teammates lost Game 1 (102-95) against Minnesota.

“It looks like his farewell tour”, REMARK Napheesa Collier. “I don't know because she is quite discreet on this subject. […] I hope we can end his career on Wednesday.”

The Lynx star, second in MVP voting behind A'ja Wilson, is largely responsible for the situation with his 38 points on 11/19 shooting. “What's great about her is that she does something other than score points. That's what makes her so unique.”rejoices her coach Cheryl Reeve.

A fatal 11-3 at the end

Natasha Cloud (33 points) and Diana Taurasi tried to close a 14-point gap at the break, even having a one-point lead with two minutes to go. But the Lynx would then end the game on an 11-3 run.

This defeat puts Phoenix and Diana Taurasi in difficulty. It will be essential to win Game 2 on Wednesday, at home, otherwise the adventure will end.

“I think everyone wants to continue, not only for themselves, but especially for her,” insists coach Nate Tibbetts. “It will be her decision after the season. She has been very clear about that. We like having her with us and, as we saw on Sunday, she can still play at a high level.”

/ 102 Shots Rebounds
Players Min Shots 3pts LF O D T Pd Party Int Bp Ct +/- Pts Eval
B. Carleton 35 4/8 2/5 2/2 1 5 6 4 3 2 1 0 -1 12 19
A. Smith 21 3/5 1/3 0/0 1 2 3 3 4 0 1 3 +11 7 13
N. Collier 40 11/19 3/5 13/14 3 3 6 4 1 0 2 1 +9 38 38
K. McBride 35 5/11 3/7 7/7 1 2 3 4 3 0 0 0 +8 20 21
C. Williams 25 4/12 1/1 0/0 0 6 6 8 0 4 4 0 +7 9 15
Mr. Hines-Allen 19 4/6 0/0 2/2 0 5 5 3 2 0 1 0 -2 10 15
C. Zandalasini 6 1/1 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 +5 2 3
D. Miller 0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 0 0
A. Pili 0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 0 0
N. Hiedeman 18 2/7 0/3 0/0 0 2 2 4 0 1 1 0 +4 4 5
O. Epoupa 0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 0 0
34/69 10/24 24/25 6 25 31 30 13 8 10 4 102 129
/ 95 Shots Rebounds
Players Min Shots 3pts LF O D T Pd Party Int Bp Ct +/- Pts Eval
B. Griner 31 3/10 0/0 4/6 1 5 6 0 3 1 1 2 +1 10 9
D. Taurasi 30 8/16 5/10 0/0 1 1 2 2 3 1 3 0 -22 21 15
N. Cloud 38 14/23 4/8 1/2 0 6 6 10 4 1 5 1 -1 33 36
K. Copper 33 6/15 2/5 2/3 0 4 4 3 5 2 2 0 +2 16 13
S. Cunningham 29 3/5 2/3 0/0 0 4 4 1 6 2 0 0 -12 8 13
Mr. Billings 15 1/2 0/0 0/0 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 0 +11 2 6
Mr. Herbert Harrigan 2 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -8 0 0
N. Mack 11 1/2 0/0 0/0 3 2 5 1 0 0 0 1 -5 2 8
C. Taylor 12 1/1 1/1 0/0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 -1 3 6
37/74 14/27 7/11 7 24 31 19 21 8 11 5 95 106

How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers attempted; LF = Free throws made / Free throws attempted; O = Offensive rebound; D = Defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose balls; Ct: Blocks; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the court; Pts = Points; Eval: Player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.

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