Diana Taurasi on jump ball with Sue Bird: ‘If I lose this I’m done’

Fans were treated to what might be one of the last meetings between longtime friends and rivals Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi during the Phoenix Mercury’s 69-64 win over the Seattle Storm on Saturday night.

Bird has said the 2022 campaign will most likely be her last after 19 seasons in the WNBA. In Seattle on Saturday, all eyes were on Bird, 41, and Taurasi, 39, as the two battled it out at Climate Pledge Arena.

The matchup got a little testy in the fourth quarter when Bird attempted a steal and locked up Taurasi, resulting in a jump ball. Bird had a mic on during the contest, and it picked up an argument between the friends as they disagreed over who had the ball.

Taurasi, who ultimately won the jump ball and had the better night with 24 points, reflected on the moment after the game.

“I was like, ‘This is going to be the worst jump ball ever, and if I lose this, I’m done!’ I would die,” she said.

The Mercury are already 2-0 against the Storm this year, with their third and last meeting of the regular season set for July 22.