Taurasi sat down with PhoenixMercury.com before heading to the Big Apple and talked about her first professional season of basketball, the crazy past year and her plans for the offseason.

PhoenixMercury.com: Congratulations. How does it feel to add another honor to your impressive resumé?

WNBA 2004 Rookie-of-the-Year Diana Taurasi: Whenever you get an award, it’s cool. Rookie of the Year, especially in the WNBA where there are so many good players, it means a lot, it really does.

PhoenixMercury.com: What were the biggest surprises in your first season as a pro?

Taurasi: Nothing was really surprising, but everything was a learning experience. Everything was new. The games, practicing, traveling, every single day was something new, which was new.

PhoenixMercury.com: With all the attention you received this season, did you use playing as a release?

Taurasi: You have to because there was so much going on. Every single day there was something new coming up. “Go here, go there.” The basketball side of it was definitely an escape. I take it in stride. I really don’t focus on (the attention) because I know that’s not what I’m here for. I’m here to play basketball and that’s what was important to me. I wasn’t worried about all the other stuff.

PhoenixMercury.com: How would you evaluate your play this season?

Taurasi: I think I did pretty well. I know I could have done a lot better, done a lot more. I just take that as being my first year and now I know what I need to do for my team next year.

PhoenixMercury.com: What are the areas you feel you need to work on?

Taurasi: Just little things that as a first-year player you really don’t always develop right away. Be a leader and be more vocal, and I think I can do that because I’ve done it with other teams, so I’ll definitely be looking to do it more next year.

PhoenixMercury.com: Were you concerned coming in that your high profile would effect how your teammates reacted to you?

Taurasi: No, I wasn’t worried about that because I usually get along with everybody. When someone comes in with that much attention and hasn’t ever played a (professional) game, people can get a little skeptical about it, but I just had to go out there and play. I wasn’t worried about that.

PhoenixMercury.com: What were your impressions about the city of Phoenix and the Mercury’s fans?

Taurasi: The fans were great this year. I think every game was great. You could feel the energy from the crowd and whenever you’re home, that’s what you want to feel. The city’s great, I enjoy the weather, so I’m happy.

When you win, people come. That’s the bottom line. When (the Mercury) won in the late ‘90s, America West Arena was filled. So, that’s what we have to do, get back on a winning track and I think this year we got back onto it a little bit, and it can only get better.

PhoenixMercury.com: Because of your success and comfort at Connecticut, did any part of you want to stay in college forever?

Taurasi: I was definitely comfortable in college with my coaching staff and my teammates. But, there comes a point where you have to go outside your comfort zone and try something different, and that’s definitely what the WNBA is.

PhoenixMercury.com: How disappointing was it to not make it to the postseason this year?

Taurasi: Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, you’ve got to see it the wrong way to do it the right way, that’s the way I look at it. Maybe it wasn’t our year to go to the playoffs. Maybe we needed to see ourselves play that last game knowing we didn’t have a chance to go to the playoffs. So, for next year we know when we’re in that position, when it comes down to the last five or six games, we’ll handle it a little different.

We focus on the last couple of games, but there were games throughout the season that we fell short. Then, we come back and are out of the playoffs by a game, game and a half. Those are the games that hurt you.

PhoenixMercury.com: Have you had any time to reflect on this past year and sock away some memories?

Taurasi: The whole year has been great. I’ve got to do a lot of great things, meet a lot of new people, which is a lot of fun. I’ve definitely had a great time. I’ve got great memories from the Olympics and all the way back to March, being in college.

PhoenixMercury.com: How do you evaluate the job Carrie Graf did this season?

Taurasi: Carrie did a great job. It was definitely a change when you’re so used to one person doing it one way. But, coming into the season from day one it felt comfortable with the whole coaching staff. There’s a certain atmosphere they created that made it fun to come to practice every day. That’s what you want from a coach.

PhoenixMercury.com: Finally, what are your offseason plans? Any vacation time planned?

Taurasi: I’ve got to wait for this hurricane to go away, but I’ve got some things I’m working on. In January, I go back to school. I’m looking at some places here to buy a home. I’ll spend some time in California with my family this offseason.