Diana Taurasi
A basketball revolutionary whose relentless scoring and competitive fire redefined greatness in the women's game, becoming its all-time leading point-getter.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American basketball player·Birthday: June 11·Millennials
Biography
Diana Taurasi didn't just play basketball; she imposed her will on it. From her championship-winning college days at UConn, where her confidence was as potent as her shooting, she carried an unmistakable swagger into the professional ranks. Drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury, she became the franchise's fiery heart, delivering three WNBA titles with a style that blended deep three-point range, clever playmaking, and a killer instinct in big moments. Her impact stretched globally, with successful stints in Russia that made her one of the sport's highest-paid athletes. For the U.S. national team, she was an unwavering constant, a six-time Olympic gold medalist whose commitment never wavered. Taurasi's legacy is etched in the record books and in the elevated expectations she created for every player who followed.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Diana was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Diana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Diana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, a record she continues to extend.
- Won six Olympic gold medals with the USA Basketball women's national team, the most by any player in a team sport.
- Led the Phoenix Mercury to three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014), earning Finals MVP honors twice.
- Named the WNBA's Most Valuable Player in 2009 and a ten-time All-WNBA First Team selection.
- Completed a historic collegiate career by leading UConn to three consecutive NCAA championships (2002-2004).
Did You Know?
She holds both American and Argentine citizenship, the latter through her father.
Taurasi is nicknamed 'White Mamba,' a moniker given to her by Kobe Bryant.
She and Sue Bird are the only basketball players to win five Olympic gold medals (she later won a sixth).
She played for the same Russian club, UMMC Ekaterinburg, for over a decade during the WNBA off-seasons.
“You have to love this game, because if you don't love it, it will break your heart.”
