PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Mercury are dedicating two courts at the team’s new $70 million practice facility to star guard Diana Taurasi.

The 58,000-foot facility in downtown Phoenix will be unveiled next Thursday to kick off WNBA All-Star weekend at Footprint Center. The facility, three blocks from the arena, will include two courts named Diana Taurasi Court and include a logo inspired by the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer.

The facility also will including strength and cardio areas, hydrotherapy, a sauna, offices, meeting rooms, lounge and dining room, among other amenities.

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said when he bought the franchise in 2023 that it was a priority for the Mercury to have their own practice facility.

Taurasi has been with the franchise her entire career since being taken out of UConn with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. She’s a three-time WNBA champion, six-time Olympian and 11-time WNBA All-Star who will play for the U.S. in the Paris Olympics later this month.

The WNBA All-Star skills challenge and 3-point contest are next Friday in Phoenix, with the U.S. Olympic 5-on-5 team facing Team WNBA in the All-Star Game the next day.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.