From the signs to the endless Taurasi jerseys found in the stands and on the court, worn by Mercury players during warmups, and poignant tribute videos played during every break, the atmosphere inside the arena felt like the beginning of the end to Taurasi’s legendary career in the Valley after 20 WNBA seasons.

An emotional Diana Taurasi said she'll have a clearer picture of her future once the season is over, but Thursday night at Footprint Center had all the makings of a send-off.

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.