Winning sixth gold medal and beating Sue Bird is the goal for Diana Taurasi (Image credits: Imagn)
Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi is ready to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics for a chance to win her sixth gold medal. Taurasi has been in the USA basketball program since 2004 and has collected gold after gold.
With a potential win this year, she will have more gold medals than the recently retired Sue Bird.
The Mercury star is currently second in Olympic points for the women’s squad and could likely take the top spot this year. However, the ultimate goal for the veteran superstar is to lead the national team to a gold medal finish.
Winning another gold medal will push Taurasi to the top since she’ll be the lone player with six Olympic gold medal wins. Before the start of the games, she reflected on her journey with the team since 2004.
“I never thought I would be on this team for so long. It’s just an honor to put that jersey on, six gold medals. More importantly, I think would say what USA basketball means, the consistency, the sacrifice that we all make to be on this team. All the coaches, it’s truly an honor to be on this team,” Taurasi said.
She even joked about getting more gold medals than Bird being her driving motivation.
“That’s my only goal in life, is to beat Sue [Bird]. That would make it six. She has me on WNBA championships, so we’re even.”
Bird finished her WNBA career with four titles under her belt, while Taurasi might not get a chance to add another to her three championships. The former Seattle Storm star may have bested her in the WNBA but she’s determined to be ahead in terms of Olympic golds.
Also read: Diana Taurasi boosts Dennis Schroder’s spirit before Germany’s Olympic showdown: “You got all the heart”
Diana Taurasi on her future with the national team
Longevity has been the key for Diana Taurasi and her dominance in the game of basketball. However, all good things have an end. For Taurasi, the 2024 Olympic Games will be her final hurrah as she has decided to wrap things up.
“It’s definitely it for USA Basketball,” Taurasi said. “I’m 42. Six Olympics. It’s just been such an honor to put that jersey on every single time.”
Taurasi has served as an inspiration for many with how well she has been able to lead the team to Olympic success. Since joining the national team in 2004, Team USA has not lost a game in which she was playing. This shows how great of a star she is on the court.
