Last Wednesday, it was National Girls and Women in Sports Day. So, here are many reasons why I love and admire Diana Taurasi.
She loves to win with her influence to the Phoenix Mercury and faith
Diana Taurasi has meant so much to the Phoenix Mercury since she was elected 1st overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft out of UConn. She led the Mercury to three championships (2007, 2009, 2014) during her career. She’s spectacular in scoring with 8,575 (and counting) points as she’s an all-time leading scorer since 2017. She has three league MVP awards; two of them come from the WNBA Finals and one is from the WNBA. All she loves to do in basketball is win in fearless ways! She has great self-confidence inside her since she first picked up a basketball when she was younger.
How her and Sue Bird takes over the WNBA and discuss about their ideas for the CBA
When Diana Taurasi met up with Sue Bird in UConn, they became best friends ever since. During their times in UConn, she and Sue was the best backcourt duo in the early 2000s. In the WNBA, both Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are one of the best guards in the world of basketball and they define how they have impact women in sports.
For example, they have appeared on CBS this morning news last week talking about the new CBA and looking onto the future of women sports and coverage.
She always makes history in the WNBA!
Diana Taurasi has been an all-time leading scorer since she passed Tina Thompson in June 2017. In the 2018 season, she has made a lot of history during the season. Like recording her 1000th 3-pointer made in the season opener, becoming the first player to score 8000 career points. And add into that, she’s the only player to hold an NBA (and WNBA) record for most points scored without a 2-pt FG attempt on June 17, 2018.
Her story on The Players’ Tribune is amazing to read!
In her story called, “Just a Kid from Chino,” Taurasi talks about her story of her life and where it all began. Diana and I have a lot in common; we’re both first-generation Americans, we both have older sisters, we both love to be motivated in a successful way… Mario, her father, was a professional soccer player in Italy, where he was born. Her description of her early life is encouraging to read.
How she also impacts Team USA Women’s Basketball Team
When she was 18, she represented Team USA Women’s U18 team, where it took place in her hometown country, Argentina in July 2000. She averaged 12.6 PPG and 5.46 assists per game (most in the team) in the tournament, winning the gold medal. Four years later, she was chosen to represent Team USA national team in the Summer Olympics. Since then, she has won 4 gold medals in the Summer Olympics, 3 gold medals and a bronze medal in FIBA World Championship tournaments, and a bronze medal in 2001 Junior World Championship game. She also won the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year four times! Her career with Team USA is very special to remember!
She’s kindhearted and friendly to all fans!
I met Diana Taurasi several times! On May 15, 2018, I met her and the Mercury for the first time during Fry’s Trading Places. She was making flowers in the floral section. My mom told her that I was the one who gave her the sand bottle from Jordan, where my parents are from. So she chose me to get the flowers in front of the fans. And she also made the fans help her too! Oh my god, it was one of the best days of my life!
A year later, I gave her my, ‘Get well soon’ letter as she came into Frys in front of the fans. I felt nervous when I was giving it to her, but I did it!
Then, last August, when I made a poster saying how much I missed seeing her rise on the court. She came to me for a picture! Overall, Dee and I had great conversations and high fives. All in all, she’s the sweetest player on and off the court to fans!
And those are the reasons why Diana Taurasi is my hero! Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @ayaabdeen__ for more content. And check out more WNBA articles by the Belly Up Sports family.
2 Comments
Cool article. I really admire Diana Taurasi too! She is fantastic. You’re going to make a great Phoenix Mercury journalist one day!
Thank you!! I feel so excited for the opportunity I have with the Belly Up Sports family!