Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury will sit out the 2015 WNBA season after the Russian club she plays for offered to pay her to rest.
Taurasi makes about $1.5 million playing basketball in Russia and was set to make about $108,000 this year playing for the
Phoenix Mercury, The Associated Press reported.
Taurasi, who led the Mercury to the league championships in 2007 and 2009, sent a letter the fans explaining the toll of year-round basketball and saying it would be “irresponsible” not to accept the offer to rest.
“I want to be able to take care of myself and my family when I am done playing," Taurasi wrote.
"We understand Diana's choice not to play this season, a decision that undoubtedly will extend her career and will benefit the Mercury in the future," Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello said, according to the AP. "Obviously, it is hard to replace someone of her caliber, but we are confident in our other key personnel on our roster continuing their development and rising to the challenge."
Taurasi has played year-round since being drafted into the
WNBA in 2004, ESPN reported.
"I'm really lucky to even have these options. It speaks volumes on how UMMC values our relationship, and vice versa. For 10 years, I have never had any significant time off," Taurasi said.
The move could spur the WNBA to reexamine its salary structure, ESPN noted.
Twitter users had mixed reactions.
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