Diana Taurasi addressed the swirling controversy surrounding her age just two days before the Team USA women's basketball team faces Japan at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At 42, the five-time Gold medalist is set to become the oldest player to compete for Team USA in Olympic history.
The 19-season WNBA veteran has sparked a fiery debate about her place on the Olympic team. Some critics suggest it might be time for her to retire and question her ability to keep up with the younger players. Despite these doubts, Taurasi's recent performance level speaks volumes.
This season, she's averaged 16.1 points per game for the Phoenix Mercury , not far off her career average of 17. After the Olympic opening ceremony, Taurasi addressed the concerns to the media and said, "It's a bit disrespectful. I'm here to compete, play at a high level, and win a Gold medal."
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"Especially in women's sports, in women's professions, only a woman would have 20 years of experience, and it's an Achilles heel instead of something that is treasured and used as a way forward for our sport and for women," Taurasi said. Hopefully, we can change that narrative."
Taurasi's senior-level Olympic journey started in 2004, months after she led UConn to a historic third straight NCAA title. She wasted no time impacting the floor, leading the team by scoring 16.2 points per game before playing a pivotal role in clinching the gold medal.
Fast forward to 2008, and the Mercury guard was a key player on the U.S. roster that dominated in Beijing, bagging another gold. Team USA went undefeated in the contest. Taurasi's performance included a perfect free-throw record throughout the tournament, adding 10.9 points per game to the team's tally and trailing only behind Sylvia Fowles and Tina Thompson.
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London 2012 was another golden chapter for Taurasi and Team USA , showcasing their unrivaled sports dominance. Taurasi's playmaking and leadership were crucial to their victories after beating France in the gold medal final and bronze medalists Australia in the semifinal.
In 2016, the Rio Olympics saw Taurasi and Team USA clinch their fourth consecutive gold, cementing their legacy as one of the most formidable teams in Olympic history. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021 due to the pandemic, marked Taurasi's fifth Olympic appearance and yet another gold medal for her collection.
Now, with her sights set on Paris, Taurasi aims to add another chapter to her legendary career as the USA seeks to secure an eighth consecutive Gold medal, a trend that has been ongoing since the 1996 games in Atlanta. In a sit-down interview beforehand, Taurasi confirmed that 2024 would be her last Olympic games.
“It’s definitely it for USA Basketball,” she said. “I’m 42. Six Olympics. It’s just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time.”
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