TEMPE- Wednesday was National Girls and Women in Sports day, which showcases all girls and women who are involved in sports as athletes, journalists, etc.
Two Phoenix Mercury legends, Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor, attended Wednesday's Arizona State women's basketball game against Oklahoma State, 74-69.
Taurasi and Taylor led the Mercury to three WNBA Championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014, and became one of the best backcourt duos that lasted for ten seasons.
Since then, Taylor's jersey number (No. 13) has been retired, while Taurasi is set to have her jersey number (No. 3) retired by Phoenix.
"Especially in the national girls and women in sports day, it's something that we're growing this game together," Arizona State women's basketball head coach Molly Miller said Wednesday.
"She [Diana Taurasi] started that surge, and to have one of the greatest in your backyard appreciating a good college hoops game, it's fun (and) special. We're trying to bridge the gap between exposure, TV, agency, all the things that this women's sports charge does, and really excited to be a part of it, and glad she came as well."
Throughout her 20-year career, Taurasi became the WNBA's All-Time Leading scorer with 10,646 career points and became the first player in league history to score 10,000 points on her signature three-point shot in Aug. 2023.
She is also one of the best trash-talkers in the game of women's basketball, and her legacy has made a forever impact on the league.
Redshirt junior guard/forward Deborah Davenport became one of the crucial contributors off the bench in the Sun Devils win, recording a near double-double of 18 points and nine rebounds.
Not to mention that she secured a crucial offensive rebound that secured the deal for Arizona State.
"It's cool to have her [Diana Taurasi] there," Davenport said. "... She's amazing, so I appreciate her coming out and watching us and taking the time."
Overall, having Taurasi and Taylor in attendance at the Sun Devils vs. Cowgirls women's basketball game was a unique