Mercury's Diana Taurasi Expected to Miss 10-12 Weeks After Back Surgery

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi is likely to miss 10 to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a disc in her back, the team announced Thursday. 

"Diana began experiencing symptoms during offseason workouts, notified us, and in conjunction with our medical staff determined the right course of action," Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said. "We have confidence that this procedure will not only get her back on the court but ensure she can get back to chasing around her toddler son, Leo, as well."

The WNBA is down yet another one of its biggest names for a significant chunk of the 2019 season.

Maya Moore announced in February she was sitting out the entire year in order to give her body a rest after the constant grind of playing in the WNBA and overseas.

Reigning MVP Breanna Stewart ruptured her Achilles in the EuroLeague championship game and will be out of action until 2020.

And the status of Liz Cambage remains unclear. The Dallas Wings confirmed in January the Australian center requested a trade. Cambage didn't play in the WNBA from 2014 to 2017, leaving many to wonder whether she'll take another hiatus if the Wings fail to find a workable trade.

Taurasi's surgery is big because the Mercury are clear title contenders, especially since the defending champion Seattle Storm are without their best player. Phoenix pushed Seattle to five games in the 2018 semifinals.

Now, the Mercury are themselves down one of their top stars, which puts further strain on a roster that was extremely top-heavy toward the end of last year. Granted, injuries played a role, but Phoenix used just seven players in that decisive Game 5 against the Storm in the postseason. 

Despite turning 36 midway through the season, Taurasi continued to be a dynamic scorer in 2018. She averaged 20.7 points, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three-point range. The nine-time All-Star finished third in offensive win shares (4.8) and fifth in total win shares (5.6), per Basketball Reference.

The arrival of rookies Alanna Smith and Sophie Cunningham will help soften the blow of Taurasi's absence, but head coach Sandy Brondello can only ask so much of two first-year players.

Assuming Taurasi can return at some point late in the year, the Mercury are still a playoff team. But they're likely to finish outside of the top two, which would mean the prospect of at least one single-elimination game before the semifinals.