Full and happy

The GIST: It’s officially the end of an era — for the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA, and sports as a whole — after the iconic Diana Taurasi announced her retirement yesterday. Fully satiated, the hoops giant’s storied career is truly one for the history books.

❣️ DT’s impact on the game is second to none, as evidenced in a September thank you video that foreshadowed her impending retirement. Widely considered to be one of the greatest women’s players of all time, her 20 WNBA seasons in Phoenix were characterized by unbridled grit and determination on the court and unmatched charisma and advocacy off of it.

• Whether it was at UConn, in the pros, or on the international stage, DT was unapologetically herself — and that paved the way for the next generation of women hoopers to be both edgy and skilled, ruthless and likeable. Some even forayed into trash talk to mimic their idol.

As the sun sets on her remarkable career, let’s take a look inside DT’s jam-packed trophy case:

🏆 Not only is she a three-time WNBA champion (2007, 2009, 2014), Taurasi’s a two-time Finals MVP (2009, 2014), league MVP (2009), and 11-time All-Star.

• After being drafted No. 1 overall in 2004, DT went on to win Rookie of the Year honors. Special from the beginning.

🪣 Taurasi’s the all-time WNBA leading scorer, amassing 10,646 career points.

🥇 The six-time Olympic gold medalist is the only American hooper to compete in six Games, let alone win gold in every appearance.

All that’s left to say is thank you: Doors will never be the same, and neither will women’s basketball.

The GIST: Black women smashing ceilings in sports is nothing new — and there’s only more to come. That’s why we’re capping off our Black History Month series by highlighting three Black women whose futures are so bright, shades are a must.

🤸 Jordan Chiles, UCLA and Team USA gymnastics: The dynamic American gymnast is already a multi-Olympic medalist, most recently earning gold in the team event at the Paris Games — but that’s only part of the reason she was named one of TIME’s women of the year. Her resilience and grace in the face of adversity left so many in awe this year.

• From floor routines that spark joy to her pre-meet sweet tooth, friend of The GIST Chiles is a gymnastics icon, demonstrating growing diversity in the sport while also being a vocal advocate for mental health — from the UCLA mat and beyond, she’s just getting started.

🏀 JuJu Watkins, USC basketball: Not only is the superstar sophomore a force to be reckoned with on the court — she’s the only DI college player to tally more than 35 points, 10 boards, eight blocks, and five threes in a single game — Watkins is making waves off the hardwood too, boasting an NIL portfolio that includes one of the most lucrative shoe deals in women’s hoops history.

• What’s more, the LA kid is (literally) invested in making the game and community she loves more inclusive and accessible, promoting the rise of women’s basketball as an early Unrivaled backer while also championing her late grandfather’s legacy.

🏒 Sophie Jaques, Minnesota Frost: Making history is nothing new for the Canadian, whose college heroics catapulted Ohio State into national title contention during her five-year tenure. And when her name was engraved on the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award — given to the top player in women’s college hockey — she became the first Black player to receive the honor.

• Jaques, who, in 2024, was the first Black player drafted to the PWHL, is also skating towards an even bigger legacy. She serves as a spokesperson for Black Girl Hockey Club, an initiative working to make hockey more accessible for Black women. Puck yeah.

⛳ LPGA: HSBC Women’s World Championship — Tonight through Saturday — Golf Channel

• Night owls, rejoice. Starting at 9:30 p.m. ET, world No. 6 Hannah Green defends her title against top-ranked players in Singapore, including No. 5 Lilia Vu and No. 28 Brooke Henderson, both of whom are seeking their first win of the year.

🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 8 UNC vs. No. 16 Duke — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — TSN5

• Come for the ACC battle for North Carolina glory, stay for the Canadian surprise. The Tar Heels enter on a seven-game win streak, but if anyone can hand them their first road loss of the season, it’s their archrival Blue Devils, led by freshman Torontonian, Toby Fournier.

🏒 NHL: St. Louis Blues vs. Washington Capitals — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — Sportsnet

• Don’t look now, but Caps captain Alex Ovechkin is just 12 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record after lighting one lamp in last night’s 3–1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Will he inch even closer against the middling Blues?