WNBA All-Star Diana Taurasi Leans Into the Tough Stuff, at Home and on the Court

Diana Taurasi isn’t about to miss dinner with her family. The legendary Phoenix Mercury guard, widely considered the best player in WNBA history, is off to the Paris Olympics in a few weeks and the stakes are high. If she leads Team USA to victory, she’ll have won six gold medals, the most for any basketball player. At 42, she knows full well this may be her last shot at achieving that accolade.

So, she’s training hard—four to five hours daily. But as soon as 6 p.m. rolls around, she’s out the door. “Being a parent has made me prioritize my time at the gym,” she says. “I have to go home and be just as focused when I’m with my family.” 

Sitting down for a meal with her wife and former teammate, Penny Taylor, and their kids, Leo, 6, and Isla, 2, to chat about their day is a simple ritual that Taurasi treasures. “During those conversations is when the jokes come out and the memories are made,” she says. And no matter how busy life gets, family will always come first. That’s something the California native learned from her Argentine mother and Italian father. “We take care of each other,” she says. “Same goes for my basketball team. They’re family, too.” 

Those bonds will bolster Taurasi as she prepares for this pivotal moment in her career. That it comes at a time when women’s basketball has exploded in popularity–Latine viewership in itself being up 96%–thanks to newcomers to the league, like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink is the cherry on top. Taurasi thrives on pressure and no doubt she’s more than ready to show the world what greatness looks like. 

You just celebrated 20 years in the league. What’s your biggest accomplishment?

I could say championships or MVP, but there’s something special about being on one team for 20 years. Coming from Argentina and growing up in an Italian household, loyalty is big for us. To be able to wear one jersey for 20 years and stay in the same city through all the ups and the downs, that to me is my biggest accomplishment.

You started your sports career in high school. For teenagers, that’s a time when they’re figuring out who they are and what they’re into… 

When you start playing as a teenager, you’re unsure of everything; you’re uncomfortable about everything. And the basketball court was the one place where I always felt comfortable. I didn’t have to defend myself or prove myself, I just loved to play. I felt a sort of freedom. 

Now you’re headed to the Olympics. What would a sixth gold medal mean to you?

When you put on that jersey, there’s so much that comes with it. You’re representing the game of basketball for everyone who loves it in this country, whether you play it at the highest level or at the park. There’s so much honor and pride in being a first-generation immigrant. It’s the American dream, and I think that resonates with a lot of people in this country.

How did being the kid of immigrant parents shape your career?

It made me tough. My parents came to this country with nothing, like millions of immigrants, and they found a way to do better for their family. My dad would get ready for work every morning at 4 a.m. when his alarm clock went off. And my mom made sure everything was set for us to have the best day. There was no ‘I’m tired.’ There was no ‘I’m sick.’ There was no ‘I don’t feel like it.’ And those are the traits I inherited from them.

How has your Argentine heritage influenced you as a parent?

I’ll do anything for my two kids. I want them to have that same feeling for each other and their cousins. You might have some differences but at the end of the day, you don’t get to pick your family. So, you make it work. That’s what my mom instilled in us. No matter what, you take care of your sister and vice versa. 

Have you taken the kids to Argentina?

We haven’t been to Argentina yet. But we have a trip planned to Rosario in November or December. We have a whole crew of cousins that we haven’t seen in over 10 years. We’re trying to do a big pilgrimage back to the motherland.

You’e spoken about how the transition into the league can be hard when you’re a rookie. If you think back, how would you compare it to being a new parent? What’s harder?

There’s nothing like going through something yourself. Whether you’re a rookie or at a new life stage, that’s when you have to put your head down and work harder. We’re in a day and age when we shy away from the hard things. And I want to lean into the hard things. That’s what gives you the confidence to be a better person, parent, teammate, professional, colleague. It’s knowing how to navigate those moments and keeping your work ethic and principles intact. 

Is that something you’re teaching your kids?

I want to make sure that Leo and Isla know that it’s not always going to be easy. You don’t get your way all the time. And when you don’t, you have to find a way to work harder and get there for yourself.

How do you and your wife support each other when it comes to balancing work and family?

I’ve been so lucky. Penny is the best mom in the world. She is really incredible. Because she shares the same experience—Penny’s a Hall of Famer and played in the Olympics—she knows the physical and mental demands of what it takes to play in the WNBA, overseas, and in the Olympics.

To have someone [who] knows what it’s like and understands when you’re in a bad mood because you lost the game or didn’t play well— all those things contribute to why I’m still playing.

What does date night look like for you both?

Date night usually comes at six in the morning while having coffee. It’s like a date morning. While the kids play, we have a cup of coffee and enjoy a couple of moments together to chat about whatever it may be.

Women’d hoops is finally getting the attention it deserves? What needs to happen to close the gender pay gap?

The attention on women’s basketball is amazing and it’s pushing the game forward. But monetarily, we have to see the difference. That’s when you really affect change, when you get paid what you deserve. For a long time, we’ve had to go overseas, which is not ideal. I played in Russia for 10 years. In my 30s I missed out on being with family. So, the ultimate goal is to make sure those salaries represent the actual impact we’re having on society.

You’ve suffered from eczema and serve as a spokesperson for Dupixent. How do you choose the companies you work with?

You have to be aligned in your experiences. I’ve suffered from eczema since I was in college. My arms are always out playing basketball and that red, dry, itchy skin can make life uncomfortable. I’ve used over-the-counter creams, prescription treatments but nothing was making a difference. So, my dermatologist brought up Dupixent. It really opened up my eyes to a different way to battle my outbreaks.

Speaking of quality of life, what does self care look like for you?

It’s changed over the years. In my 20s, I probably never slept. In my 30s, I changed the way I eat to feel better. Our family has been vegan for eight years. Every decade I find something different to make myself more present. I’m sure you know, when you have kids you want to be able to do things with them as you get older. Everything I do is to be the best parent and the best professional athlete I can be. It’s a daily routine.

So, no churrasco for you?

It’s funny because whenever I go home, my dad will offer me pollo. I’ll say, ‘Papi hace ocho años que no como pollo.’ Then he’ll offer me dulce de leche, huevos. It’s funny because I still can’t break my dad. He’s like, ‘What’s the matter with you? You ate it growing up.’ I’ll tell him, ‘I know that, but we’re just trying to be a little more proactive.’ 

Who are your biggest role models, personally and professionally?

A lot of our friends and family came over from Argentina with that hustle mindset. Not feeling sorry for themselves but working hard. When you see that as a little kid, it’s empowering. I wake up every day and think ‘What am I doing today?’ Professionally, I’ve had great coaches who have shown me how to be a teammate beyond the game.

Everyone knows how to dribble. Everyone knows how to shoot. Everyone knows how to play defense. But it’s how you treat others around you that really makes a difference. That’s what cultivates a team and greatness and the best in yourself. 

You’re certainly role-modeling that for your kids. Any mini basketball players in your house?

Leo complains. He can tell we want him to play so we’ve done a 180 and don’t talk about it. And he’ll ask, ‘When’s basketball practice?’ And we’ll say, ‘We’ll go if you want.’ Then the little one is two and a half. You can tell she’s an athlete. She has a way about her; she’s very physical and loves to climb. But at the end of the day, they’ll pick their path of what they love to do. And if it’s basketball, I would obviously enjoy that. 

Would you that home is your happy place?

Home is where I feel the best. I don’t have to impress anyone. Penny knows me through and through. My kids love me. When my parents come and stay with me, and my sister and her kids are here. It’s where all the things I love come together.

Does that mean you’re ready to spend more time at home? There are murmurings that you’ll retire after the Paris Olympics. 

Well, the next one is in Los Angeles, which is my hometown. So, I don’t know.