When the game ended, the lights dimmed in the seating areas as the spotlight beamed on Taurasi at center court. Before she addressed the crowd, a tribute video for Taurasi played on the screen above. It was the same video that the Mercury social media account posted to X on Thursday afternoon, teasing a potential retirement announcement.

Diana Taurasi tired to address the Phoenix Mercury crowd, but was interrupted. They wanted her to play one more year.

The crowd interrupted Taurasi when she first said "If it is the last time." Taurasi responded with her trademark dry humor and a dig at former UConn teammate Sue Bird, who retired two years ago and was in attendance: "I think they tricked Sue with that one last time."