Diana Taurasi: Things to know about the USA basketball star

Diana Taurasi has rightfully earned legend status in basketball.

Tokyo 2020 will be her fifth Olympic Games, and if Team USA can come away with the title, she and Sue Bird would become the first basketball players to win five Olympic gold medals.

She's got a nickname given to her by Kobe, stars in a Hollywood film being released in 2021, and believes a plant-based diet will help her become the first in the WNBA to reach 9,000 points.

Find out more about this women’s pioneer who's not letting up anytime soon.

Taurasi leading the way from first pick in the WNBA Draft

Taurasi was selected number 1 overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft.

She didn’t disappoint in her inaugural season, winning rookie of the year.

Now, Taurasi is widely considered one of, if not the greatest basketball player in the history of the WNBA.

The Phoenix Mercury guard is in her 17th year in the league, with three WNBA titles under her belt.

As well as being the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, she’s also one of the best-three pointer shooters in the game.

Retirement is not on Taurasi's radar

Taurasi will be 39 years old at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021.

At an age when most basketball players have retired, the American is still competing for titles.

For the past six years she has been eating a plant-based diet. She credits this, and a focus on hydration post training, in helping her body feel good, and extend her career longevity.

Despite having her fair share of injuries over the years, she keeps bouncing back.

Her latest set-back has seen her miss a month of the 2021 season due to a fractured sternum. After undergoing back surgery in 2019 she only played only six Games in the WNBA, making this most recent injury the second time in the last three seasons that she's missed a considerable amount of game time.

But injuries aside, when she's fighting fit, she's unstoppable.

She's currently sitting on 8,994 career points and is set to become the first WBA player to make 9,000 points.

Earlier this year she signed a new two year deal with the Phoenix Mercury that will see her play her 18th season. Asked about hanging up her shoes, the answer was clear.

"You know, I didn't think about retiring at all.

"To think about all the time I've had in Phoenix and the memories we've built, the program we've built, the culture — we've done a lot in 17 years, and I don't think we're done." - Taurasi speaking to Yahoo Sports.

White Mamba - A nickname for a legend, from a legend

When the Space Jam: A New Legacy film debuts in July 2021, several familiar faces will be in it - including Taurasi’s.

Taurasi plays herself, White Mamba.

It's a name that was given to her by her childhood idol, the late Kobe Bryant.

The legendary LA Laker dubbed her "White Mamba" in 2017 as a spinoff of his moniker "Black Mamba" after she overtook Tina Thompson as the all-time WNBA leading scorer.

After his 20-year career with the Lakers, Bryant connected with Taurasi for coaching tips after he retired in 2016, as his daughter Gianna idolised her.

Gianna wanted to follow in her footsteps and play at the University of Connecticut - the same stomping ground where from 2002-2004, Taurasi won three consecutive NCAA championships.

Just days before Gianna and her father died in a helicopter accident, Kobe spoke to CNN about women playing on court with the men, believing Taurasi was one that could.

"I think there are a couple of players who could play in the NBA right now honestly.

"There's a lot of players with a lot of skill that could do it."

"Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Elena Della Donne. There's a lot of great players out there so they could certainly keep up with them," he said.

An idol for many

Sabrina Ionescu was the number one overall 2020 draft pick and has been a shining star for New York Liberty this season.

The 23-year-old recently made history becoming the youngest WNBA player to record a triple-double.

No surprises which player she most wanted to square up against.

"Diana Taurasi," I honestly missed out on playing against almost everyone, so a lot of the players I'm excited for, but Diana for sure." she said in a Bodyarmor campaign.

Two-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker has also not been shy about his admiration for Taurasi.

His Phoenix Suns share the same training facility as her and the Mercury, claiming to Insider that having access to "the greatest of all time in Diana" is not a perk many athletes have "right in your backyard."

G.O.A.T debate

Taurasi's mindset has for long time been likened to Michael Jordan.

Her skills, vision, and competitive will to win is also often referenced as being similar to Jordan's.

But with her own name and in her own right, Taurasi has forged her own way.

Her peers cannot say enough, including her longtime friend, and fellow Team USA basketball team mate Sue Bird.

Recently at a Team USA media summit, the duo were asked, who is the greatest player of all time?

Bird points to Taurasi, who responds "there's a lot of good players,'' to which Bird quickly replies, "that's what you say when you're the best player."

Check out the amusing interaction below.

First to claim five golds?

"When I think about going to a fifth Olympics, for some reason it takes me back to the last four," Taurasi told azcentral earlier this year about competing at Tokyo in 2021.

"How I never thought after one would be two, two would be three, three would be four and now we're talking about 20 years of USA Basketball."

Winning the title would also complete 20 years of dominance, with Taurasi at the centre.