Diana Taurasi Sitting out 2015 WNBA Season: Latest Details and Reaction

After helping to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a WNBA title in 2014, star guard Diana Taurasi has decided to take the 2015 campaign off.

According to a press release issued by the Mercury, via WNBA.com, Taurasi chose not to play in 2015 after the Russian team she plays for during the WNBA offseason offered to pay her to sit out this season. Add in the fact that the 2016 Olympics are on the horizon, and Taurasi decided her best option was to return to the WNBA in 2016, not 2015.

Taurasi also wrote a letter to the fans. Below is an excerpt of that letter, via AZCentral.com:

"

This decision isn't a statement about the Mercury. I said it at our championship rally last September, but I want to repeat it here: the day I was drafted to the City of Phoenix and the Mercury organization was the luckiest of my life. Our team, our coaches and our organization include some of the best people in my life. And they deserve your support whether or not I'm there—because they are still going to be damn good.

The year-round nature of women's basketball takes its toll and the financial opportunity with my team in Russia would have been irresponsible to turn down. They offered to pay me to rest and I've decided to take them up on it. I want to be able to take care of myself and my family when I am done playing.

"

WNBA President Laurel Richie spoke about Taurasi's decision:

"

First and foremost I respect her decision. As a fan, I will miss watching her this season. Her growth as a player is consistent with the growth of the league, culminating last season with the Phoenix Mercury becoming WNBA champions and us having an incredible year with attendance up and great increases in ratings and viewership, particularly in our postseason.

We recognize that the WNBA is part of the global community of women's basketball and that our players play in the WNBA and in leagues around the world. The WNBA is, and will remain, the destination for the very best women's basketball players in the world.

"

Paola Boivin of AZCentral provided her take on Taurasi sitting this season out:

Taurasi's loss is a huge one for the Mercury. She was the MVP of the WNBA Finals in 2014 and averaged 16.2 points, 5.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game during the regular season. She averaged 21.9 points and 5.8 assists in the postseason.

Taurasi's decision isn't going to be a popular one among Mercury fans, and the WNBA can't be thrilled that it is losing one of its better players for an entire season. It's certainly hard to imagine Phoenix repeating as champions without her.