Diana Taurasi capped her worldwide profession with a sixth Olympic gold medal on Sunday, calling it “actually an honour” to symbolize the USA and see the expansion of the worldwide recreation.
The USA received its file eighth straight gold with a gritty 67-66 victory over host nation France.
Taurasi, with gold in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024, surpassed Sue Chook for probably the most Olympic golds by an American girls’s basketball participant, however regardless of the US’ lengthy dominance Taurasi by no means thought it was a certain factor.
“These video games are powerful,” Taurasi mentioned. “Everybody at all times thinks it’s going to be simple to win gold medals. However a recreation in France towards a French crew — they play bodily, they play laborious, play for his or her nation. It was a tricky win.”
The Phoenix Mercury guard, proprietor of three WNBA titles, didn’t play within the remaining, however US coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned earlier than the Video games her expertise was a “tremendously helpful” asset.
“She’s one of many best opponents girls’s basketball, and sports activities, has ever seen,” Reeve mentioned. “There’s no substitute for that degree of expertise.”
Taurasi endorsed her youthful teammates that the US’ historical past of success was no assure of gold.
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“I simply informed the crew earlier than the event, historical past doesn’t earn you one other one. You’ve acquired to go and earn it.
“All these groups have anted up, they’re all investing of their groups and also you see it on this event. Each evening any crew might have received,” she mentioned. “It’s been enjoyable to be part of that.”
She’s additionally loved taking part in alongside altering generations of expertise. Along with her sixth gold in hand, she mentioned, “I believe I’ll simply look again on 20 years of with the ability to put on the jersey.
“I’ve been fortunate to be round a few of the finest gamers to ever play.
“After I was younger (with) a few of my idols, within the center my counterparts and now to see these younger guys to go on the market and get this gold medal. It’s a variety of luck and a variety of laborious work — right here I’m.”
Taurasi has clapped again at ideas she ought to have made manner for a youthful participant, saying “solely a lady would have 20 years of expertise and it’s an Achilles heel as a substitute of one thing that’s treasured and used as a manner ahead for sport and ladies.”
However she has no plans for one more Olympics, despite the fact that the 2028 Video games will likely be in her hometown of Los Angeles.
“I do know, LA, I’ll be there with a beer on the seashore,” she mentioned.