Diana Taurasi confirms USA Basketball retirement after 2024 Paris Olympics
At 42, Diana Taurasi is set to become the oldest woman to ever play for USA Basketball at the Olympics.
Taurasi will captain the United States as it goes for its seventh consecutive gold medal, looking to add a record-setting sixth to her trophy case.
The star guard has been a mainstay on Team USA’s roster since she made her debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Twenty years and six tournaments later, many assumed the Paris Games would be her final go-around.
On Thursday, Taurasi confirmed that this Olympic run would be her last with USA Basketball in an interview with ESPN.
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Diana Taurasi confirms USA Basketball retirement after Paris Olympics”Well, it’s definitely it for USA Basketball,” Taurasi told ESPN’s Michele Steele when asked if the Paris Olympics would be her last.
“42, six Olympics. It’s just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time.”
Taurasi continued, talking about what it would take for the United States to win its seventh consecutive gold medal.
“It’s hard to put together 12 players that have never played together, practice twice, and then expect to win a gold medal. But we will always figure out a way to sacrifice, to be selfless, to make sure that the end result is to win the gold,” Taurasi said.
“We always have that mindset when we play with Team USA. It’s about our country and it’s about doing the job.”
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be her last Olympic Games, Diana Taurasi announced.
“Iâm 42. Six Olympics. Itâs just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time.” đ pic.twitter.com/JX9BtyAIYt
â ESPN (@espn) July 26, 2024Taurasi already owns several records for both USA Basketball and women’s basketball at the Olympics. Take a look at where she stacks up in the record books going into her last dance.
Diana Taurasi Olympic recordsTaurasi’s five gold medals are tied with Sue Bird and Teresa Edwards for the most in Olympic basketball history, regardless of gender.
Taurasi would stand alone in Olympic history if the United States can secure her sixth gold medal in Paris.
She ranks first in women’s Olympic basketball history in games played (38) and 3-point field goals (78). She ranks second in points (414) and third in assists (97) in United States Olympic basketball history.
Taurasi trails the great Lisa Leslie (488) by 74 points for the most in United States women’s basketball Olympics history. She has a chance to break that record at the 2024 Games, but she would have to average at least 12.3 points per game.
You can find Taurasi’s USA Basketball and Olympic women’s basketball records below.
CategoryStatUSA RankOlympics RankGold Medals5T-1stT-1stGames Played381st1stPoints4142nd4thAssists973rdT-4th3-Pointers781st1st
