When the game ended, the lights dimmed in the seating areas as the spotlight beamed on Taurasi at center court. Before she addressed the crowd, a tribute video for Taurasi played on the screen above. It was the same video that the Mercury social media account posted to X on Thursday afternoon, teasing a potential retirement announcement.

Taurasi, 42, has been hinting at retirement for a few years, and the team has been running an "If this is it ..." campaign on social media in recent weeks. At least for now, though, Taurasi says she hasn't made up her mind on her basketball future.