Tears for Taylor as she hangs up her sneakers
PHOENIX (WNBA) - Penny Taylor has called time on her stellar career after the Opals and Phoenix Mercury star made a tearful exit from the game with her name being chanted after a deserved standing ovation.
PHOENIX (WNBA) - Penny Taylor has called time on her stellar career after the Opals and Phoenix Mercury star made a tearful exit from the game with her name being chanted after a deserved standing ovation from Phoenix fans.
Universally considered as one of the great Australian players in addition to being among the biggest stars in the women's global game, the 35-year-old didn't get the fairytale finish she wanted at international or club level.
Yet in typically candid fashion, she underlined how she felt it was the right time, having been subbed out of the Mercury's WNBA Semi-Final loss to the Minnesota Lynx three minutes before the final buzzer.
"It was hard physically," stated Taylor. "In a way, it reinforces there’s an expiring date for everyone. But no matter what, I like to think I came out to fight and I've done that my entire career - it's something I take a lot of pride in."
"I guess, in a way, it's a comfort to me that all that ever did matter to me was winning. And I was able to do that here." - Penny pic.twitter.com/HDUra4UAHM
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) October 2, 2016
Taylor has done so much more than fight. She may have now left the game missing out on a medal in Rio and one last shot at another WNBA Championship ring, but she still has so much to look back on with real pride and satisfaction.
Being treated like a hero as she left the floor and now widely revered via #thankyouPenny on social media, the sentiment was echoed by her compatriot and Mercury head coach, Sandy Brondello.
Coach Brondello on Penny Taylor. #ThankYouPenny pic.twitter.com/orUqQIL6so
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 2, 2016
The play-caller was quick to confirm her belief that Taylor will be remembered as one of the greats in the women's game.
Her standout achievement was being crowned MVP at the FIBA Women's World Championship in Brazil in 2006, when she posted one of the most memorable tournament performances in memory with a string of mesmeric displays as Australia climbed onto the top step of the podium.
FIBA