Ladies and gentlemen, mark your calendars and prepare your tissues! Diana Taurasi, the ageless wonder and unofficial Queen of the Court, has confirmed that she will be hanging up her Team USA jersey after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yes, you heard that right. At 42 years young, Taurasi is set to become the oldest woman ever to don the red, white, and blue at the Olympics.
Captain America (sorry, Chris Evans) will lead the United States as they hunt for their seventh consecutive gold medal, which would add an unprecedented sixth to her already overflowing trophy case. Move over, Michael Jordan; there’s a new GOAT in town!
Taurasi, who’s been a fixture on Team USA’s roster since her debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics, has been dodging retirement rumors for what feels like a century. But on Thursday, she finally confirmed in an interview with ESPN’s Michele Steele that the Paris Games would indeed be her last tango with USA Basketball.
“It’s definitely it for USA Basketball,” Taurasi said with a wink and a sigh. “42, six Olympics. It’s just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time. But hey, even superheroes need a break, right?”
The Ultimate Quest for Gold (Again)
As if putting together 12 players who barely know each other and expecting them to win a gold medal wasn’t challenging enough, Taurasi remains undeterred. “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,” she stated with the confidence of a true champion.
“We always have that mindset when we play with Team USA. It’s about our country and it’s about doing the job,” she added. Translation: winning is our day job, and we never take a vacation.
Record-Breaking Feats: Taurasi’s Final Showdown
Let’s talk stats, shall we? Taurasi’s five gold medals tie her with Sue Bird and Teresa Edwards for the most in Olympic basketball history. If Team USA secures gold in Paris, Taurasi will stand alone at the top, proving once and for all that she’s the undisputed Empress of the Hardwood.
In women’s Olympic basketball history, Taurasi ranks first in games played (38) and 3-point field goals (78). She’s second in points (414) and third in assists (97) in United States Olympic basketball history. Only the great Lisa Leslie (488 points) stands between Taurasi and yet another record. To surpass Leslie, Taurasi would need to average at least 12.3 points per game in Paris. Knowing her, she might just do it with one hand tied behind her back.
Here’s a quick glance at Taurasi’s USA Basketball and Olympic women’s basketball records:
| Category | Stat | USA Rank | Olympics Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Medals | 5 | T-1st | T-1st |
| Games Played | 38 | 1st | 1st |
| Points | 414 | 2nd | 4th |
| Assists | 97 | 3rd | T-4th |
| 3-Pointers | 78 | 1st | 1st |
So, grab your popcorn and get ready to witness the last chapter of Diana Taurasi’s legendary Olympic saga. Whether she’s draining 3-pointers, dishing out assists, or simply being the boss she is, one thing is certain: Paris 2024 will be one for the history books. And who knows? Maybe Taurasi will finally get that much-needed superhero retirement she so richly deserves.
