Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi flies home in time for the birth of daughter.
Diana Taurasi returned home in time to see her wife Penny Taylor give birth to their second child, a baby girl.
Taurasi returned to Phoenix from Las Vegas shortly after helping the Mercury win Game 5 of their playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces.
In Friday night’s 87-84 victory, she scored 14 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter.
In a postgame interview, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer joked with Taylor, telling her to “hold it in, sweetheart.”
Taurasi boarded an aircraft for the short trip and then drove directly to the hospital to witness the delivery.
Taylor gave birth to her first child at 4:24 a.m. local time.
The greatest reason for the Phoenix Mercury’s 87-84 victory against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night to earn a place in the WNBA Finals?
No, it wasn’t Shey Peddy’s two-of-three free throws with 4.8 seconds left that gave the Mercury a two-point lead, but they certainly helped.
Even Brittney Griner’s stop of an A’ja Wilson driving shot with 0.7 seconds left couldn’t save the game.
If you ask Mercury coach Sandy Brondello, the answer is self-evident.
“In the fourth quarter, we have Diana Taurasi and they don’t,” she added, quoting Taurasi’s Connecticut college coach from decades ago.
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“I’m taking it from Geno [Auriemma], but that’s the crux of the matter.” It was Diana’s shooting that altered everything.
That instilled hope in us. Diana gave us hope when we were down by eight [points] at the start of the fourth quarter.”
As a consequence, the Mercury won Game 5 in front of 9,680 fans at Michelob Ultra Arena,
an Aces record, and will now face the Chicago Sky at home.
Taurasi got off to a slow start, missing her first five 3-point tries on Friday night and seeming to take it easy for the opening three quarters.
But then the all-time top scorer in the WNBA got hot.
And it wasn’t only because Aces guard Jackie Young smacked her in the face late in the third quarter.
Taurasi scored 14 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter, which is tied for third highest in a winner-take-all playoff game since the WNBA switched to four quarters in 2006.
Taurasi was a part of that run, nailing three of four shots from beyond the arc.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau,
she is currently 16-2 in winner-take-all games in her career,
the greatest record in WNBA history.
After the game, Taurasi told ESPN, “You simply can’t worry too much.” “For almost a year,
I was quite concerned. Working out, I’m 39, and I’m still able to play.
Do you know what I mean? You simply can’t care anymore at these times.
You can’t possibly be that concerned.”
This will be her first appearance in the WNBA Finals since the Mercury beat the Sky 3-0 in 2014.
“It’s difficult,” she said. “How many seasons has it been now?
Seven, eight?” And once you’re there, you believe you’ll always be able to go there.
This is not the case. I understand the gravity of the situation,
and these guys have been outstanding throughout the year.
This squad has been very tenacious throughout the season. We’ve suffered injuries and various misfortunes,
but we’ve always managed to stick together and like one other. This is significant.”
The Mercury led by ten points early on, 20-10, and led 46-44 at halftime.
The Aces, who went on a 24-0 third-quarter run in Game 4,
went on a 14-0 third-quarter run of their own Friday night to grab a 10-point lead. Late in the third, they were still up 64-54.
With a pair of 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter, Taurasi sparked a 10-0 Mercury surge.
The remainder of the way, no side led by more than four points.
The mental tenacity of Taurasi and Griner, according to Aces coach Bill Laimbeer,
was crucial in Mercury’s victory.
Laimbeer remarked, “They willed that onto their team.”
“They stuck it out and made the big plays.” That is a quality we must develop.
Whether it’s because we mature or because we acquire something,
this squad has constantly lacked a steely leadership throughout the year. ‘No, this is how we do it,’
someone who sits there and says. This is what will take place.’ They have it, but we don’t.”
Unfortunately, we needed mental tenacity down the line.
It was not to be. We were defeated. That’s the way things are.”
Do you want to be mentally tough? Taurasi,
who began the series with an ankle ailment that restricted her, is also on a different timetable.
Penny Taylor, her wife, was scheduled to give birth to their second child on Oct. 6.
“Hold it in, babe,” says the narrator. “I’m coming,” Taurasi said, staring into the camera.
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