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Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi lambasts WNBA travel conditions: 'We're just women'

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi lambasted travel conditions in the WNBA after her team's 94-84 loss to the Dallas Wings on Thursday night in Phoenix, calling out the "big pockets" that can change the situation.

Mercury starting guard Skylar Diggins-Smith missed the game with a non-COVID-19 illness.

"We have players out, staff, trainers, coaches, you know, it's the situation that we are in," Taurasi said in a video captured by 12 Sports' Cameron Cox. "We find ourselves always in these conditions that are tough. We are in these airports that obviously in the summer are crowded, people go on vacation. …We go to Vegas tomorrow, there are thousands of people in the casino. You just have to be as safe as possible with the conditions the way they are."

The Mercury fell to 2-3 with the loss after losing in Las Vegas to the Aces on Tuesday night, 86-74.

They return to Las Vegas to face the Aces again on Saturday.

Taurasi continued: "It's unfortunate that we have to travel this way because it really does take a toll on you physically, and now your health is at risk for you and your family. It's a shame that we are still talking about this 25 years later when there's big pockets out there that could change this thing, but you know, we're just women."

Heated exchange: Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins-Smith separated after incident

Diggins-Smith is one of the best on-ball defenders on the team and is the team’s facilitator, but her status for Saturday’s game at Las Vegas is still up in the air.

Taurasi took over the reins as the facilitator in the loss to the Wings and put on her best performance of the young season with 31 points and five 3-pointers.

She kept the Mercury in the game in the fourth quarter when she posted 14 points, but the Mercury went cold after a Tina Charles’ putback layup at 2:08.

"These are the times where you bond and stay together through these tough times." Taurasi said after the game. "Dallas played really well tonight, they’re a good team. Tonight we grew a little bit and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get the win.”

Another loss for Phoenix: Diana Taurasi scores 31 points, but Mercury lose defensive battle in loss to Dallas Wings

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi is not a fan of the WNBA's travel conditions.
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi is not a fan of the WNBA's travel conditions.

After facing the Aces in Las Vegas on Saturday, Phoenix has another three games on the road.

The Mercury visit the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, the Atlanta Dream on May 29 and the Chicago Sky on May 31.

They return home to host the Connecticut Sun on June 3.

The Arizona Republic's Jenna Ortiz contributed to this story.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi lambasts WNBA travel conditions