Taurasi celebrates her birthday with return to Mercury practice
The Phoenix Mercury celebrated Diana Taurasi's 37th birthday with a cake after practice Thursday, but the real celebration was about what Taurasi did during practice.
Although still not cleared for contact, the WNBA career scoring leader was back on the court for the first time since back surgery April 24, starting a conditioning phase of her rehab that could put her back on the court by early July.
"Today was the first day back with the team," Taurasi said. "No matter what when you're injured, you're on your own little schedule of rehab and therapy. It felt good to go through some things, get re-acclimated with what we're trying to get done."
Taurasi met with her surgeon, Dr. Terrence Crowder, last week while the Mercury were on a three-game road trip.
"He's pretty optimistic," Taurasi said. "I'm cleared to do as much stuff as I want. Now it's just building. I've been pretty much dormant the last four months so I have to get in some sort of playing shape to even be able to get out there. My days are eight-hours long trying to get in shape, get fit enough, trying to feel comfortable enough on the court. When that day comes, I'll be out there."
The original timetable for her return was 10-12 weeks. Taurasi is now seven weeks post-surgery. The Mercury are 2-3 without her going into a home game Friday against Los Angeles (3-2) that could include the return of Sparks' star Candace Parker, out since suffering a hamstring injury May 11 early in a preseason game against the Mercury.
Taurasi's actual birthday was Tuesday, when the Mercury still were out of town. So the cake for her and Jennifer Gillom, Mercury director of player development, who turned 55 Thursday, was put off a few days.
What the Mercury don't want to delay any longer than necessary is Taurasi's playing return, especially since the early season returns have been spotty for a team with championship aspirations.
"The first two weeks is always a struggle to all get on the same page," Taurasi said. "Not only that, our first four out five were on the road. I'm not playing, three rookies, new face in Essence (Carson), BG (Brittney Griner) coming off a long season in Russia. There's a lot of little things that made it hard for us to get on a roll.
– The Mercury (2-3) went 1-2 on a three-game road trip, losing 82-75 to Chicago on Tuesday while the Sparks (3-2) have been off since an 89-85 win at Minnesota on June 8.
"I thought Indy (94-87 win) was a good start to something. Chicago (82-75 loss), we went in and didn't play very well. They pretty much just outplayed us. Let's see if we can take those games and grow from them. That's all we can do is keep building."
The Mercury play three of their next four at home including a pair against Los Angeles. Veteran forward Camille Little is expected to make her season debut Friday, coming back from a foot injury.
"She'll needs a little time with contact to feel really confident before we put her out on the court," Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said of Taurasi. "Hopefully end of June, but I'm not the doctor. We'll know more after she can compete in some drills how she's going."