Taurasi is suiting up for Team USA in her sixth consecutive Olympic Games and can become the first ever basketball player (male or female) to win six gold medals. She will also become the oldest U.S. woman to play in basketball in the Olympics, a storyline that not only highlights the longevity of Taurasi, but slightly annoys her. Despite smashing numerous Olympic records throughout her career, there's one opponent she hasn't been able to beat: ageism.
"When you dedicate your whole life and whole career to something and you get the question of ‘why don’t you just retire’?... It is a bit disrespectful," Taurasi, 42, said Saturday ahead of Team USA's opening matchup against Japan on Monday. “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 declared: "I don’t care about the last 20 years. I’m worried about the next 20 years."
Diana Taurasi celebrates Team USA's championship in women's basketball at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the fifth gold medal of her Olympic career. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
Twenty years ago, Taurasi made her Olympics debut at the 2004 Athens Games. Straight out of college and fresh off her third NCAA championship at UConn, the rookie joined a U.S. national team that featured eight Hall of Famers (nine, if you count future Hall of Famer Sue Bird, who is eligible for induction in 2027).
"I got to sit in the locker room with Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley and Katie Smith," Taurasi recalled. "That’s a lesson in its own and you can’t buy lessons like that."
The U.S. women won gold in 2004 , the first of Taurasi's five. Taurasi has not lost a game in a USA jersey and the American women have been undefeated in Olympic play since 1992. They are in pursuit of their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal. Taurasi is now the future Hall of Famer passing the torch to her teammates.
"This is (Taurasi's) sixth Olympics, but how many things has she built that no one really gave her credit," said Kelsey Plum. "(Taurasi), the Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Coopers that laid the foundation, so we can be here right now in this moment. You can look at it as pressure, but to be honest, pressure is something that if you are not ready for, you will pop. But I know everyone in this moment is ready for this.”
Taurasi said she's ready to prove that experience is an advantage, not a liability: “I’m here to compete. I’m here to play at a high level. I’m here to give to my teammates and I’m here to win a gold medal."
Taurasi has played in 38 Olympic Games, the most in Olympic history, and is the fourth all-time leading scorer at the Games (414). But Taurasi's scoring ability comes second to her mentorship and guidance this time around.
"To be able to just share the court on the same side with arguably one of the greatest player our game has ever seen is something I don’t take for granted," first-time Olympian Sabrina Ionescu said. Chelsey Gray added: "It’s great taking advantage of playing with her. A future Hall of Famer. Getting her flowers while she’s still playing is amazing."
U.S. women's head coach Cheryl Reeve said "there’s no substitute for (Taurasi's) level of experience."
"She’s done it all in big games. Won us big games. Makes big shots," Reeve said. "Her level of compete, her understanding of the game, her understanding of her teammates, how to put them in position to be successful. All those things are tremendously valuable. Six Olympics is an incredible accomplishments."
Taurasi announced earlier this week that Paris will be her last Olympic Games. Despite what she does in Paris, Taurasi is already considered the "GOAT," as Breanna Stewart described, by many.
"It's definitely it for USA basketball. 42 (years old), six Olympics, it's just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time," Taurasi said. "Personally, I know the end is way closer than the beginning... So I try to enjoy every single moment."
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