Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi (3) calls out the play during the WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Atlanta Dream on August 21st, 2021 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi is out for the team’s single-elimination playoff game against the New York Liberty on Thursday due to a left ankle injury.
Taurasi will miss her fifth straight game with the ailment after being listed as questionable for the game. The guard is averaging 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this season.
The Mercury will miss Taurasi for not only her ability but her prowess in win-or-go home games.
She boasts an incredible 7-1 record in them and an even more impressive 14-2 mark overall in playoff games that are winner-take-all. The 17-year vet is posting 23.1 points per game in those contests and has scored 25-plus in seven of them.
Taurasi’s absence will mark the 17th game she’s been out for this season. Without her, the Mercury had a 7-9 record in the regular season.
Thursday’s game from Grand Canyon University starts at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
