Diana Taurasi lashes out at critics wanting her to retire

Diana Taurasi, 42, is set to become the oldest basketball player to ever suit up for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The guard is nine years older than the next-oldest player on the squad, Brittney Griner (33), and the second-oldest hooper at the Games behind Australia's Lauren Jackson (43).

Naturally, Taurasi's news conferences and interviews in Paris have been loaded with "retirement plans" and "life after basketball" questions. On Sunday, Taurasi lashed out at those critics who want her to retire, suggesting that she still brings a lot to the table for Team USA and her WNBA team, the Mercury.

"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?' And 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 told reporters . "I'm here to compete, play at a high level, give to my teammates and win a gold medal. That's it. I don't care about the last 20 years. I'm worried about the next 20 years."

Taurasi further said that "ageism" is one topic that nobody can escape including her, and that she's been unfairly maligned for being a woman.

"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 rued. "Hopefully, we can change that narrative."

Before the Paris Olympics, some argued Taurasi's inclusion in the 12-woman roster was only ceremonial to allow her to win her record sixth Olympic gold medal — the most by any athlete in a team sport.

However, others reasoned that the stalwart was still a critical component of a Team USA roster trying to win its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Taurasi and Co. will open their Paris Olympics campaign against Japan on Monday. Thereafter, Team USA will face Belgium on Thursday and Germany on Sunday to round out the group-stage fixtures.