Mercury All-Star Diana Taurasi weighs in from Russia with answers to your questions!

Fan Question: As a season ticket holder and a guy from Kelly Miller's home town, I'm looking forward to seeing you two playing together! How do you see your two styles complimenting one another with Coach Westhead's style of play?

Diana: I think it will be great. His (Westhead) style really lets one's creatvity come out. Kelly is great in the open court - making decisons and knocking down shots - so i think we will work really well together. She had a great college career at Georgia and a lot of success in the WNBA so far too. It’s going to be really fun in Phoenix this year.

Fan Question: Are you having fun playing with Sue Bird again? And do you get to follow the UCONN season at all?? If so, how do you think they will do in the end?

Diana: Its been great to reunite with Sue. She doesnt pass the ball as much anymore..joking! We have great chemistry on the court .Its been awesome. I've tried to follow my girls at UCONN as much as possible. They are a gritty team and work really hard which has paid off by winning the Big East Tournament. Ann, BT express, Wilie and Cole - our seniors - will definitely go out with a bang and bring back another banner to Storrs. Coach Auriemma never returns my phone calls..all the things i did for him… Joking!

Fan Question: Hey Dee, how's Russia? I missed seeing you and Sue at the NBA All-Star game. Anyway, i was wondering how much of a challenge it is playing overseas and then having to prepare for the start of the WNBA season? Good luck this year. Go Phoenix!!!

Diana: It's mentally challenging to be away from your family and freinds for so long. I miss the little things that we take for granted in the States - like Jack in the Box! In terms of basketball, adjusting to teamates and the language has been a pretty easy. We have great Russian teamates here.

Fan Question: Hi Diana. We have a 4-yr-old daughter named Shasi ("shaw-c"). We call her "Shasi Taurasi"! What is the one influence you recieved from your parents, as a child, to help you become who you are today?

Diana: THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hard work. My parents never preached. They led by example every single day.

Fan Question: Hey Dee! I was just wondering what you do in the offseason that keeps you in such great shape and how excited are you for the '06 season? Hopefully I'll see you in Chicago when you play the Sky!

Diana: I'm extremely excited to get back to the States and start the season. Im looking forward to playing for Coach Westhead and with my teammates. One of the good things about playing overseas is that you get to work on your basketball and conditioning all year. It should be fun to have a new team in the league this year and Chicago should make it more interesting. See ya in the Chi.>

Fan Question: What is the best thing about being in the WNBA?

Diana: Being able to play at the highest level and play in front of freinds and family is the best thing about the WNBA. I love the opportunities that basketball has given me and when you play in the best league in the world with the best players, it's really exciting.

Fan Question: Have you been able to sit down and relax? It has to get tiresome after all the movement.

Diana: Well there has been a lot of travel and playing games since the Mercury season ended. It’s not bad over here. We get to hang out after practice and the travel has been pretty good. I just got done playing with USA basketball and that was a crazy week, but good to see all those players again. I'm just excited to get back to Phoenix and get the Mercury season started. It's going to be a fun season.

Diana: Keep the questions coming! It's great to hear from you and I can't wait to see everyone on May 25!