Diana Taurasi: A Basketball Legend

How Much is Diana Taurasi Worth?

Let's talk about Diana Taurasi, one of the most celebrated figures in women's basketball. With a net worth of $7 million, she’s not just a star on the court but also a name that commands respect off it. Drafted as the first overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury in 2004, she spent her entire WNBA career with the franchise, leading them to three championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014. Her journey began with a bang when her rookie season saw the Phoenix Mercury clinch the WNBA title, making her one of only seven players to win the WNBA title, the NCAA title, and the Olympic Gold Medal. She’s earned countless accolades, including NCAA Tournament MVP, WNBA Rookie of the Year, WNBA MVP, WNBA scoring champion, and more. In August 2023, she became the first WNBA player to hit the 10,000 career points milestone.

Nicknamed the "White Mamba," Taurasi's career is nothing short of extraordinary. She’s won multiple WNBA MVP awards, been selected 10 times as an All-Star, and holds the record as the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, a title she achieved in 2017. Her scoring prowess is a mix of elite three-point shooting and aggressive drives to the basket, making her one of the most versatile players in the league.

On the global stage, Taurasi has been just as dominant, winning five consecutive Olympic gold medals with Team USA from 2004 to 2021, along with multiple World Championship golds. Beyond her stats, her fierce competitiveness, clutch performances, and leadership have defined her career. Fans know her for elevating her game in critical moments, earning her a reputation as one of basketball's most feared closers.

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Taurasi’s career isn’t confined to the WNBA. During the offseason, she played professionally overseas, especially in Russian leagues, where she earned some of the highest salaries in women's basketball. From 2006 to 2010, she played for the European team Spartak Moscow, winning four Euroleague championships in a row.

Career Earnings, Salary & Contracts

At her peak, Diana Taurasi was earning the WNBA's top salary of $235,000. But when she played overseas for teams in Russia, she was pulling in well over $1 million per season. Let’s break it down:

WNBA Contracts & Salary Progression

Taurasi played her entire WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury from 2004 to 2025, and her salary increased as the league's pay scale grew:

• In 2004, her rookie season, she earned around $40,800 after being drafted #1 overall.
• In 2007, she signed an extension, raising her salary to approximately $90,000 per year.
• In 2014, she was nearing the league max salary at $107,000.
• In 2020-2021, the new WNBA CBA increased top salaries, and Taurasi earned $221,450 in 2021.
• In 2023-2024, her final contract was a two-year deal averaging $234,936 per season, marking the highest annual WNBA salary of her career.

Despite being a WNBA legend, her total career WNBA earnings are estimated to be around $1.5–2 million, underscoring how league salary caps kept her pay lower than her true market value.

Overseas Contracts & Earnings

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Taurasi made significantly more playing overseas during the WNBA offseasons, particularly in Russia and Turkey. She played for Spartak Moscow, UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia), and Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray (Turkey). Russian clubs paid her over $1 million per season, far exceeding her WNBA salary. In 2015, she even sat out the entire WNBA season because UMMC Ekaterinburg paid her $1.5 million just to rest. Her overseas contracts alone are estimated to have earned her at least $7–8 million, making international play a crucial financial driver in her career.

Endorsement Deals & Sponsorships

Beyond her playing contracts, Taurasi has earned substantial endorsement income from major brands, adding significantly to her career total. Here’s a look at some of her deals:

• Nike: A long-time endorsement deal with the sportswear giant.
• BodyArmor: A reported $1.35 million endorsement deal.
• State Farm, Coca-Cola, JBL, Cox Communications, and Waymo: Various sponsorships that have contributed several hundred thousand dollars per year to her earnings.

Total Career Earnings

When you add up her WNBA contracts, international play, and endorsements, Diana Taurasi’s total career earnings have surpassed $10 million. Despite the relatively low salaries in the WNBA, her overseas stints and endorsements have made her one of the highest-earning women's basketball players of all time.

Her Early Years

Born on June 11, 1982, in Glendale, California, Diana Taurasi grew up in Chino, California, with her older sister, Jessika. Her father, Mario, was originally from Argentina and later played professional soccer in Italy, while her mother, Liliana, also emigrated from Argentina to the United States before Taurasi was born. Taurasi attended Don Antonio Lugo High School, where her basketball skills quickly gained recognition. She won the Cheryl Miller Award in 2000 and was named the "Parade Magazine" National High School Player of the Year the same year. She was also named MVP in the WBCA High School All-America Game and ranked fourth in California state history in overall scoring.

After high school, Taurasi enrolled at the University of Connecticut and led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships. During her college years, she received numerous awards and accolades, including the 2003 and 2004 Honda Sports Awards and the 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year. Her skills were so impressive that they were even recognized by state senator Thomas Gaffey.

Her Legendary Career

After completing her college career, Taurasi was selected first overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. The team had a tough previous season with an 8-26 record, but Taurasi quickly made her mark. In her debut game, she scored 22 points and averaged 17 points for the season. Although the Mercury didn’t qualify for the playoffs that year, Taurasi was named to the Western Conference All-Star team and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.

The following season, despite battling an ankle injury, she averaged 16 points per game and was named an All-Star. However, the Mercury again failed to make the playoffs. Things changed in 2006 when NBA coach Paul Westhead became the Mercury's new coach, and the team added another star rookie, Cappie Pondexter, to the roster. Taurasi thrived under Westhead's coaching, leading the league in scoring and breaking a league record for points in a single season. She averaged over 25 points per game and set a WNBA record by making 121 three-pointers in a single season. Despite her incredible performance, the Mercury still missed the playoffs.

In 2007, the Mercury finally made it to the WNBA playoffs and advanced to the Finals, meeting the defending champions, the Detroit Shock. Taurasi, along with Penny Taylor and Pondexter, led the team to victory. The Mercury returned to the finals in 2009, where they won again, and Taurasi was named the WNBA Finals MVP. She became one of only two players to win a season-scoring title, the season MVP award, a WNBA Championship, and the finals MVP in the same season.

Taurasi has remained with the Mercury throughout her WNBA career, though injuries occasionally affected her playing ability. In 2012, injuries left her able to play only eight games, forcing her to sit out the rest of the season due to a strained hip flexor. That season, the Mercury were the second-worst team in the league with a 7-27 record. However, she returned to the court in 2013 and led the team to the playoffs. In May 2017, she signed a multi-year contract extension with the Mercury. The same month, she became the first player in league history to reach 7,000 points, 1,500 rebounds, and 1,500 assists. She then became the league's all-time leading scorer in June of that year.

Outside of her WNBA career, Taurasi also competed on behalf of the United States on the Women's Olympic Basketball Teams in the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics, helping the team win the gold medal each time. She also had a successful career overseas, typically playing for Russian and Turkish teams. In 2015, the UMMC Ekaterinburg team from Russia paid Taurasi to sit out her WNBA season to rest, hoping she would help them secure a championship in Europe. Taurasi ultimately retired from European competition in 2017.

Her Personal Life

Taurasi’s personal life is just as inspiring as her career. After eight years of dating, she married Penny Taylor, her former teammate and later the Phoenix Mercury Director of Player Development and Performance. They tied the knot on May 13, 2017, and discussed their happiness in a later interview with "People" magazine. In March 2018, Taylor gave birth to their son, Leo Michael Taurasi-Taylor. In October 2021, Taylor was due to give birth to their second child, a daughter. However, the baby was late, and Taurasi had to leave to play a winner-takes-all Game 5 that would determine whether her team would advance to the 2021 WNBA finals. After winning the game, Taurasi rushed back to Taylor and arrived in time to witness the birth of their first daughter.

Her Real Estate Ventures

In 2014, Diana paid $3.3 million for a home in Manhattan Beach, California. Today, this home is worth around $5 million. She primarily offers this property as a rental for $15,000 per month since she spends most of her time in Arizona or traveling. In July 2018, Diana and Penny paid $1.65 million for a home in Phoenix. Today, this home is worth $3-4 million.