In the 2025 WNBA season, two players have announced their retirements from playing basketball. These two players are Elena Delle Donne and Diana Taurasi. Both of them have had a huge impact on the league and achieved many notable accomplishments.
Delle Donne started playing for the WNBA in 2013 when she was drafted to the Chicago Sky being the 2nd overall pick. In her rookie year, Delle Donne was able to carry the Sky to the championship but was overall defeated by the Phoenix Mercury.
Throughout Delles Donnes’ career, she stood out from all the teams she was on. Her shooting was always unpredictable, and her free throws were the best. Delle Donne holds the highest accuracy for made free throws, with a percentage of 93.7.
Eventually, Delle Donne was able to win a WNBA Championship in 2019 with the Washington Mystics, the team with which she remained until her retirement. Not only did Delle Donne win the championship that year, but she also won the MVP award.
In 2025, Delle Donne announced her retirement due to numerous injuries. She had to have multiple surgeries on her back because of herniated discs. Ultimately, Delle Donne decided that retiring was the best option for her and would be the best choice for her body.
Delle Donne wasn’t the only player to retire; Diana Taurasi, a very recognizable name, also retired this year. Taurasi started playing in the WNBA in 2004 when she was drafted to the Phoenix Mercury and was the first overall pick.
Taurasi was an amazing team leader and led the Mercury to not just one but three national championships, where she was titled the Finals MVP for two out of the three championships. Taurasi was also able to prove herself in the WNBA by scoring more points than anyone. Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA and has scored 10,646 points.
Also, Taurasi was able to secure the title as rookie of the year, proving herself as an outstanding player in her very first season of the WNBA. Now in 2025, Taurasi has decided to retire because she has accomplished all her goals and is full of basketball.
Both Elena Delle Donne and Diana Taurasi were able to show the league how great of players they are, and although it may be sad that they won’t be joining the W for another season, both players have accomplished so much and deserve to take a break from playing basketball for so long.
