Team USA stalwart Diana Taurasi , 42, has been struggling through the 2024 Paris Olympics - her sixth trip to the games - to the extent that she may give coach Cheryl Reeve a selection headache.
In an 87-74 victory against Belgium on Thursday, Taurasi started but provided little impact. In 14 minutes, she did not record a point, assist, or rebound and went 0-3 from the field. Breanna Stewart led the way for Team USA with 26 points.
Many fans pointed out similarities to aging Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo 's performance at the 2024 Euros. The legend of the game was clearly past his best yet continued to miss key chance after key chance as Portugal fell in the quarterfinals.
Taurasi seemed defensive when asked about her age. " “You know, when you dedicate your whole life and whole career to something and you get the question of ‘why don’t you just retire’?" she said at the Team USA press conference .
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"It’s just so easy for a question to be brought up, in a manner where it’s not meant to be disrespectful but if you’re the person being asked, it is a bit disrespectful."
Taurasi is no doubt one of the greatest basketball players of all time. She's won a record five Olympic gold medals and is part of a USA squad that has won an unprecedented 57 straight games. She's made the most appearances in Team USA history
Taurasi earned her 11th WNBA All-Star selection this season after averaging 16.1 points per game on 39.5% for the Phoenix Mercury. The 2009 WNBA MVP has not averaged more than 20 points per game since 2018.
Before the games, the Mercury forward announced this is her final Olympics : “It's definitely it for USA Basketball I'm 42. Six Olympics. It's just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time."
Her teammates have been quick to defend her inclusion in the team, despite the omissions of stars like Caitlin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale. Stewart recently referred to Taurasi as the "GOAT."
"T o 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," said first-time Olympian Sabrina Ionescu.
“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," said Taurasi. "So hopefully we can change that narrative."
The Americans have already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals and will play Germany on Saturday to determine the winner of Group C.
Since the game doesn't matter, perhaps Team USA will tinker with the starting lineup ahead of the knockouts. Either way, the Taurasi chatter will continue.
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