Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne: WNBA is more than superteams

(Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)

Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne have seen the hype surrounding the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces.

But even as the superteams generate excitement, the former WNBA MVPs are not counting out their own squads.

When asked if the expectations heaped on the Liberty and the Aces had lessened the pressure for the Phoenix Mercury, Taurasi pushed back, noting that pressure comes from within each player and each team.

“I put pressure on this team every day to come in and be its best,” she said. “The one thing that I have learned is you can’t control the narrative.”

The Liberty and the Aces dominate the betting odds for the 2023 WNBA championship, with New York at +130 and defending champion Las Vegas at +110 to win the title, per FanDuel sportsbook.

Still, the 40-year-old guard, who is entering her 19th WNBA season, expects this campaign to be one of the toughest yet.

“I think it’s going to be one of the most competitive seasons we’ve had in a long time,” Taurasi said.

Delle Donne’s Mystics sit a distant third in title odds at +1400 as training camp begins. But the 33-year-old sees a full 40-game season ahead rife with possibilities.

“There’s some people that would think, ‘Just fast-forward to the end of the season and let those two compete for the championship,'” she said. “But that’s something we’re excited to make our mark and do what we’re going to do.

“The best movies, the underdog ends up on top. Remember that.”