Phoenix Mercury star guard Diana Taurasi took home an ESPY for Best WNBA player in last night’s ceremony, hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers. She was also nominated for Best Female Athlete, but lost out to USA Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn.
Here’s the official press release from the Phoenix Mercury:
Phoenix- 2009 WNBA MVP and 2009 WNBA Finals MVP Diana Taurasi was named the Best WNBA Player at the 2010 ESPY Awards last night, hosted by Seth Meyers and televised on ESPN.
Taurasi earned the award after leading the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA Championship in 2009, the franchise’s second title in three years, and after leading the league in scoring for the third time in the last four seasons. She was also nominated for Best Female Athlete along with winner Lindsey Vonn, Serena Williams and Maya Moore.
The 2010 honor is Taurasi’s fourth ESPY award. She was twice named the Best Female College Athlete (2003, 2004) while at the University of Connecticut and also earned the Best Female Athlete award in 2004 after leading the Huskies to three straight NCAA National Championships and winning the Naismith Player of the Year Award in two consecutive season (2003, 2004).
Last night’s award came on the same day as the Mercury and Seattle Storm battled in a triple overtime thriller, a game in which Phoenix fell 111-107 to the league-leading Storm in the annual matinee contest. Taurasi recorded her WNBA-leading third career 40-point performance with a season-high 44 points, just three points shy of her own WNBA record. The league’s leading scorer is on pace for her fourth career Peak Performer award averaging 23.7 points per game.
Taurasi will next lead the Mercury vs. the Tulsa Shock on Saturday at US Airways Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. as Phoenix looks to clinch the season series vs. Tulsa. In the last meeting between these two clubs, the Mercury posted a WNBA record 116 points in the win. Fans can purchase lower-level tickets starting at just $10 by calling 602-252-WNBA or visiting phoenixmercury.com.