Diana Taurasi of Team USA understands that questions about her age are expected, but she also admits she finds them a bit disrespectful. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Special for Cronkite News)
PARIS – Diana Taurasi is clearly tired of questions about her age.
“It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was 5,” Taurasi, 42, said Monday. “It is something that I’ve dedicated my whole life to, and it’s just so easy for a question to be brought up in a manner where it’s not meant to be disrespectful, but if you’re the person being asked, it is a bit disrespectful.”
The Mercury veteran and the U.S. women’s basketball team start their quest for yet another gold medal Monday.
Taurasi has yet to commit to saying goodbye to basketball. As she makes it clear that she is only looking forward to the next 20 years of her life, she also seems to be combating and ringing the alarm on stereotypes surrounding women in the professional world and ageism.
“In women’s sports and in women’s professions, only a woman would have 20 years of experience and it is an Achilles heel instead of something that is treasured and used as a way forward for sport and women,” Taurasi said. “Hopefully we can change that narrative.”
Both Taurasi and LeBron James, who will turn 40 in December, are expected to complete their final Olympics runs this year. Both are questioned about retirement often.
“We started at the Olympics together in 2004, he’s skipped a couple by the way,” Taurasi said jokingly. “We talk about what’s next in life all the time, obviously being the older generation and putting all the years in.”
It is exciting to play next to players such A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, Taurasi said, much like LeBron James gets to play and watch the younger generation, which includes standouts such as Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum.
“It’s hard to let go and we’re still holding on tight,” Taurasi said.
Fair or not, Taurasi will become the oldest basketball player to play for Team USA in the Summer Games, which makes her a wellspring of experience for her teammates.
“I hope I can do what Dee’s doing,” Wilson said. “She is someone that is forever goated, someone that has really put in the time, the effort, the love behind the game, and it shows.”
Wilson experienced her first gold medal run and All-Star Game with Taurasi by her side.
“She is the blueprint of someone that is just showing the longevity of what you can do,” Wilson said.
With the recent rise in popularity of women’s basketball spurred by a great 2024 WNBA rookie class and the undeniable allure of Caitlin Clark, Taurasi and Co. are looking to block the noise and narratives out in order to keep the momentum going in the right direction for the sport.
“Anytime we’re playing, we want to show everyone who’s watching why they should be watching.” Stewart said. “As our sport continues to grow, there are going to be narratives.”
There has been much debate in 2024 as to the biggest contributor to the rise of women’s basketball, but exposure has been higher and more people are watching now than ever before.
With US women’s basketball currently on a 55-game winning streak and having obtained seven straight gold medals, the players have massive expectations and precedent to match.
Both the popularity of the game and the expectations for this team are at an all-time high.
“Especially being here in Paris for the Olympics, there is no higher platform than where we are right now,” Stewart said. “We’re at a pivotal point in women’s sports and in women’s basketball, specifically the WNBA.”
For Taurasi, seeing all of the younger players around her having the ability to make change on their own accord through technology makes her happy. She understands that this is a big moment, and she gives her younger peers credit for the growth of the game she’s poured into for over 20 years.
“The younger generation gets criticized a lot but also the younger generation is what’s pushing the needle forward,” Taurasi said. “They are moving the needle socially, economically and professionally for the rest of our country as women and that’s going to be their legacy.”