Taurasi Makes Olympic History Despite Bench Role

Diana Taurasi has officially made her mark in history by scoring her sixth Olympic gold medal after the U.S. women’s basketball team narrowly defeated France 67-66 on Sunday.

Interestingly, Taurasi didn’t actually step onto the court during the championship game. The 42-year-old watched from the sidelines as her teammates, including A’ja Wilson and Kahleah Copper, delivered stellar performances to secure the victory.

When asked about her new record of surpassing former teammate Sue Bird for the most Olympic basketball gold medals, Taurasi quipped, “Yeah, it’s the only reason I came.” She humorously noted that she scored the same amount of points in the game as Bird did: zero.

Although she didn’t play in the title match, Taurasi’s experience and leadership were invaluable to the team throughout the tournament. Since her first Olympic appearance in the Athens Games back in 2004, she has been part of Team USA’s incredible journey, winning all 44 games she’s participated in, contributing to a record-setting 61-game win streak.

Taurasi has made history as the only American basketball player, from either the men’s or women’s teams, to compete in six Olympic Games, and she has collected six gold medals along the way.

Even with such a celebrated career, some fans voiced their opinions on social media, wondering if a younger player, like Indiana Fever rookie, might have been a better fit for the Paris Games.

Looking ahead, Taurasi has announced that the 2024 Paris Olympics will be her last, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in Olympic basketball.