Why is Diana Taurasi not playing tonight vs Connecticut Sun? Exploring Mercury guard's status (July 1)

The Phoenix Mercury have ruled out Diana Taurasi for tonight's game against the Connecticut Sun at the Footprint Center. Taurasi had played the first 18 games of the season and will be missing her first contest. The Mercury are coming off an 88-82 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday.

Taurasi has been fantastic for the Mercury despite being the oldest player in the league at the age of 42. She's averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 40.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 86.9% from the free throw line.

In addition to Taurasi, the Mercury will also be without Charisma Osborne and Rebecca Allen. Osborne has a lower leg injury and will miss her second consecutive game, while Allen has a back issue that slowed her down in Sunday's loss to the Fever.

---

What happened to Diana Taurasi and when will she return from the injury?

According to ESPN's Michael Voepel, Diana Taurasi and Rebecca Allen were downgraded from questionable to out for tonight's Phoenix Mercury game against the Connecticut Sun. Taurasi has been dealing with lower back soreness and it will keep her out for at least one game.

Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said the absence of Taurasi was due to the "process" and part of the "big picture." Tibbetts also pointed to the number of games his team has over the past week.

Phoenix is playing its second game of a back-to-back. With Taurasi being 42, it's wise for the Mercury to give her a rest and preserve her health.

She will be participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics next month representing Team USA.

---

Diana Taurasi loses first battle with Caitlin Clark

Sunday's matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever was hyped up as the first meeting between Caitlin Clark and Diana Taurasi. The Mercury legend received a lot of flak for her comments about Clark before the start of the season but had nothing but praise in her postgame press conference.

"It's amazing what Caitlin's been able to do in her short career so far. It's been nothing short of remarkable. The one thing that I really love about her, she loves the game. You can tell she's put the work in."

Taurasi had 19 points in the game but shot just 5-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-10 on 3-pointers. Clark also struggled with her shot as she went 4-of-14. But she did have a strong all-round game with 15 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds.