Diana Taurasi
Encyclopedia
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball
player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury
in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park
from Turkey
. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.
and attended Don Antonio Lugo High School where she was the recipient of the 2000 Cheryl Miller Award, presented by the Los Angeles Times
to the best player in Southern California. She was also named the 2000 Naismith and Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year. Taurasi finished her prep career ranked third in state history with 3,047 points (behind Giuliana Mendiola's 3,069 and Cheryl Miller's 3,446). Taurasi was named a WBCA
All-American. She participated in the 2000 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored twelve points, and earned MVP honors.
Taurasi was born to her parents Mario and Liliana. Taurasi has an older sister, Jessika. Her father was born in Italy and raised in Argentina, which is also the native land of her mother Liliana. Her parents moved to the U.S. before she was born. Diana's father was a professional soccer player in Italy. He had logged several years as a goalie.
Following a highly decorated high school
career, Taurasi enrolled at the University of Connecticut
(UConn) and began playing for the women's basketball team during the 2000–2001 season. Taking the court primarily at point guard
and shooting guard
, she led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships
and a third in the 2003–2004 season. Leading up to that final championship, her coach, Geno Auriemma
, would declare his likelihood of winning with the claim, "We have Diana, and you don't."
Taurasi also received many personal accolades at UConn including the 2003 and 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year
awards, the 2003 Wade Trophy
, and the 2003 Associated Press
Player of the Year award. In addition to the national recognition she received during her time at UConn, Taurasi was held in legendary status by many Connecticut fans. For example, state senator Thomas Gaffey
nominated her to join Prudence Crandall
as the state's heroine. She averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in her collegiate career. During her time at UConn, her team compiled a record of 139 wins and 8 losses. Diana was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.
by the Phoenix Mercury
, a team that went 8–26 in the 2003 season. At times in her career, she had to play the 3 position or Forward (basketball) because there were shorter players in the starting five on her team. However, she mainly plays Guard (basketball).
In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84–76 victory over the Seattle Storm
. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Although the Mercury did not qualify for the playoffs, the season was a personal success as Taurasi was named to the Western Conference All Star team and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
.
In 2005, Taurasi averaged 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while battling an ankle injury. She was an All Star for the second straight year, but the Mercury faded down the stretch and again missed the playoffs.
Former NBA coach Paul Westhead
became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. Their roster was further bolstered by the addition of rookie Cappie Pondexter
, the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft
.
Taurasi flourished under Westhead's system, leading the league in scoring and earning a third straight trip to the All Star Game. She broke Katie Smith's
league records for points in a season (741 during the 2006 season) and is tied with Lauren Jackson
for most points in a game (47 vs. Houston
on August 10). In 2006, Taurasi averaged a record 25.3 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. The Mercury finished 18–16, but after losing a tie-breaker with Houston and Seattle, it missed the playoffs.
In 2007, Taurasi finally reached the WNBA playoffs. In the first round, the Mercury eliminated the Seattle Storm
two games to none. Next, they took down the San Antonio Silver Stars
in a hard fought two game series. Taurasi got to her first WNBA Finals
, but had to face the defending champion Detroit Shock
. In a hard-fought series, Taurasi and Pondexter led the Mercury to their first WNBA title. With this victory Taurasi became just the seventh player ever to win an NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold medal. The others to achieve this trifecta are Ruth Riley
, Sheryl Swoopes
, Cynthia Cooper
, and fellow Huskies Swin Cash
, Kara Wolters
, and Sue Bird
.
Taurasi was a member of both the Women's 2004 and 2008 Gold medal Olympic Basketball Teams.
In the 2009 season, Taurasi was named the WNBA MVP and later led the Phoenix Mercury to its second WNBA championship in 3 years by beating the Indiana Fever 3 games to 2. Taurasi was named the WNBA Finals MVP as well. Taurasi is one of only two players (the other being Cynthia Cooper
), to win the season scoring title, the season MVP award, a WNBA Championship and the finals MVP in the same season. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in the fifteen year history of the WNBA.
and USA born Sue Bird
and Taurasi.
The team would go on to win four consecutive Euroleague championships.
On December 24, 2010, Taurasi's lawyers revealed that Taurasi had tested positive for a mild stimulant while playing in Turkish
Champion Fenerbahçe
professional basketball team. According to her lawyer, Howard Jacobs
, the positive test came from an "A" sample, and that testing had been requested on a second "B" sample. Jacobs also was quick to point out that the substance Taurasi tested positive for "was not a steroid or recreational drug." Until the "B" sample can be tested, Taurasi has been provisionally suspended from the Turkish league. In its own statement, the Turkish basketball association revealed that the WADA
-list banned substance was modafinil
.
On February 16, 2011, Diana Taurasi was cleared of doping allegations. ABC News indicated Taurasi was absolved from all doping allegations and can rejoin her Istanbul team following the retraction of the Turkish laboratory on its earlier finding on the former UConn star’s urine samples.
at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece. She helped the United States capture the gold medal
, defeating Australia in the championship game. Taurasi represented the United States as a member of the US Women's National Basketball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China, where she started all eight games and helped lead the USA team to win the gold medal.
Taurasi was the second leading scorer on the USA Women's National Basketball team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship held in São Paulo, Brazil. The USA team earned the bronze medal.
Taurasi has also earned a bronze medal
as a member of the 2001 USA Junior World Championship team, and a gold medal as a member of the 2000 USA Basketball Women’s Junior World Championship Qualifying team.
Taurasi was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009. The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these participants. At the conclusion of the training camp, the team will travel to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where they compete in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational.
Taurasi was named as one of the National team members to represent the USA Basketball team in the WNBA versus USA Basketball. This game replaces the normal WNBA All-Star game with WNBA All-Stars versus USA Basketball, as part of the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women
to be held in the Czech Republic
during September and October 2010.
Taurasi had a cameo role in the 2006 film Believe In Me.
generated with :de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion V1.7<\hiddentext>>
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 34 || 34 || 33.2 || .416 || .330 || .760 || 4.4 || 3.9 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 2.65 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 33 || 33 || 33.0 || .410 || .313 || .801 || 4.2 || 4.5 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 3.39 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 34 || 34 || 33.9 || .452 || .397 || .781 || 3.6 || 4.1 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 2.32 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|25.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 32 || 32 || 32.0 || .440 || .367 || .835 || 4.2 || 4.3 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 2.62 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 34 || 34 || 31.9 || .446 || .360 || .870 || 5.1 || 3.6 || 1.4 || 1.4 || 2.44 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|24.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 31 || 31 || 31.5 || .461 || .407 || .894 || 5.7 || 3.5 || 1.2 || 1.4 || 2.65 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|20.4
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 31 || 31 || 32.2 || .427 || .374 || .912 || 4.3 || 4.7 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 3.55 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|22.6
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 32 || 32 || 30.2 || .449 || .395 || .903 || 3.2 || 3.6 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 3.00 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|21.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |8 years, 1 team
| 261 || 261 || 32.2 || .438 || .370 || .853 || 4.3 || 4.0 || 1.2 || 0.9 || 2.82 || 20.8
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 9 || 9 || 33.2 || .504 || .390 || .731 || 4.3 || 3.0 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 2.00 || 19.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 11 || 11 || 32.9 || .451 || .365 || .893 || 5.9 || 3.8 || 0.7 || 1.3 || 3.00 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|22.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | Phoenix
| 4 || 4 || 31.3 || .473 || .542 || .818 || 5.3 || 3.8 || 1.8 || 0.8 || 4.00 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | Phoenix
| || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |4 years, 1 team
| 24 || 24 || 32.7 || .473 || .398 || .839 || 5.2 || 3.5 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 2.79 || 20.8
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park
Galatasaray Women's Basketball Team
Galatasaray Medical Park is the women's basketball section of Galatasaray S.K., a major sports club in Istanbul, Turkey. The club is sponsored by Medical Park....
from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.
Early career
Taurasi grew up in Chino, CaliforniaChino, California
Chino is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the western end of the Riverside-San Bernardino Area and it is easily accessible via the Chino Valley and Pomona freeways....
and attended Don Antonio Lugo High School where she was the recipient of the 2000 Cheryl Miller Award, presented by the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
to the best player in Southern California. She was also named the 2000 Naismith and Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year. Taurasi finished her prep career ranked third in state history with 3,047 points (behind Giuliana Mendiola's 3,069 and Cheryl Miller's 3,446). Taurasi was named a WBCA
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.The mission of the WBCA is:...
All-American. She participated in the 2000 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored twelve points, and earned MVP honors.
Taurasi was born to her parents Mario and Liliana. Taurasi has an older sister, Jessika. Her father was born in Italy and raised in Argentina, which is also the native land of her mother Liliana. Her parents moved to the U.S. before she was born. Diana's father was a professional soccer player in Italy. He had logged several years as a goalie.
College
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
career, Taurasi enrolled at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
(UConn) and began playing for the women's basketball team during the 2000–2001 season. Taking the court primarily at point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
and shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
, she led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
and a third in the 2003–2004 season. Leading up to that final championship, her coach, Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
, would declare his likelihood of winning with the claim, "We have Diana, and you don't."
Taurasi also received many personal accolades at UConn including the 2003 and 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
awards, the 2003 Wade Trophy
Wade Trophy
The Wade Trophy is an award presented annually to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. It is named after three–time national champion Delta State University coach Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first–ever...
, and the 2003 Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Player of the Year award. In addition to the national recognition she received during her time at UConn, Taurasi was held in legendary status by many Connecticut fans. For example, state senator Thomas Gaffey
Thomas Gaffey
Thomas P. Gaffey is an American politician. Gaffey, a Democrat, had been a state senator from Connecticut since 1995, but left office due to criminal violations on January 5, 2011....
nominated her to join Prudence Crandall
Prudence Crandall
Prudence Crandall , a schoolteacher raised as a Quaker, stirred controversy with her education of African-American girls in Canterbury, Connecticut...
as the state's heroine. She averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in her collegiate career. During her time at UConn, her team compiled a record of 139 wins and 8 losses. Diana was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.
WNBA career
Following her collegiate career, Taurasi was selected first overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft2004 WNBA Draft
2004 WNBA Draft - 17 April 2004On January 6, 2004 a dispersal draft took place. Players were drafted from the roster of the Cleveland Rockers, who folded after the 2003 season....
by the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
, a team that went 8–26 in the 2003 season. At times in her career, she had to play the 3 position or Forward (basketball) because there were shorter players in the starting five on her team. However, she mainly plays Guard (basketball).
In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84–76 victory over the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Although the Mercury did not qualify for the playoffs, the season was a personal success as Taurasi was named to the Western Conference All Star team and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
.
In 2005, Taurasi averaged 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while battling an ankle injury. She was an All Star for the second straight year, but the Mercury faded down the stretch and again missed the playoffs.
Former NBA coach Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. Their roster was further bolstered by the addition of rookie Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
, the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft
2006 WNBA Draft
On November 16, 2005, the Women's National Basketball Association held an expansion draft for the Chicago Sky. It was the first expansion draft since the 2000 season, when the WNBA welcomed the Miami Sol, Portland Fire, Indiana Fever, and Seattle Storm into the league.On April 5, 2006, the WNBA...
.
Katie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both...
league records for points in a season (741 during the 2006 season) and is tied with Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Jackson began her professional career at the Australian Institute of Sport in the WNBL before moving on to the Canberra Capitals. She is currently a forward/centre with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the Australian...
for most points in a game (47 vs. Houston
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
on August 10). In 2006, Taurasi averaged a record 25.3 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. The Mercury finished 18–16, but after losing a tie-breaker with Houston and Seattle, it missed the playoffs.
In 2007, Taurasi finally reached the WNBA playoffs. In the first round, the Mercury eliminated the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
two games to none. Next, they took down the San Antonio Silver Stars
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
in a hard fought two game series. Taurasi got to her first WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
, but had to face the defending champion Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
. In a hard-fought series, Taurasi and Pondexter led the Mercury to their first WNBA title. With this victory Taurasi became just the seventh player ever to win an NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold medal. The others to achieve this trifecta are Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
, Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
, Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
, and fellow Huskies Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.Standing at six feet and seven inches , she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA...
, and Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
.
Taurasi was a member of both the Women's 2004 and 2008 Gold medal Olympic Basketball Teams.
In the 2009 season, Taurasi was named the WNBA MVP and later led the Phoenix Mercury to its second WNBA championship in 3 years by beating the Indiana Fever 3 games to 2. Taurasi was named the WNBA Finals MVP as well. Taurasi is one of only two players (the other being Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
), to win the season scoring title, the season MVP award, a WNBA Championship and the finals MVP in the same season. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in the fifteen year history of the WNBA.
International career
Taurasi was recruited to play for the European team Spartak Moscow. The team had finished in eleventh place in the Russian league when Shabtai von Kalmanovich decided to buy the team. Kalmanovich was a successful business man with various interests, including women's basketball. He had stopped in to see a local wome's basketball team in Yekaterinburg, and "literally fell in love with the point guard, Anna Arkhipova". He ended up buying that team, but later decided to buy the Spartak Moscow Region team, and turn it into a top team. He arranged to add a number of top-notch players, who had earned seven Olympic medals between them. Many of the players were European, but the team also included Australian born Lauren JacksonLauren Jackson
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Jackson began her professional career at the Australian Institute of Sport in the WNBL before moving on to the Canberra Capitals. She is currently a forward/centre with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the Australian...
and USA born Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
and Taurasi.
The team would go on to win four consecutive Euroleague championships.
On December 24, 2010, Taurasi's lawyers revealed that Taurasi had tested positive for a mild stimulant while playing in Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Champion Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe Istanbul
Fenerbahçe Women's Basketball is the women's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major sports club based in Istanbul, Turkey.Fenerbahçe play their matches in the 1.500-seated Caferağa Sport Hall...
professional basketball team. According to her lawyer, Howard Jacobs
Howard Jacobs
Howard L. Jacobs is an attorney in the United States from Westlake Village, California, who has represented 75 or more athletes in cases, mostly about performance enhancing drugs.-Clients include::* Basketball player, Diana Taurasi, in 2011,...
, the positive test came from an "A" sample, and that testing had been requested on a second "B" sample. Jacobs also was quick to point out that the substance Taurasi tested positive for "was not a steroid or recreational drug." Until the "B" sample can be tested, Taurasi has been provisionally suspended from the Turkish league. In its own statement, the Turkish basketball association revealed that the WADA
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
-list banned substance was modafinil
Modafinil
Modafinil is an analeptic drug manufactured by Cephalon, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea...
.
On February 16, 2011, Diana Taurasi was cleared of doping allegations. ABC News indicated Taurasi was absolved from all doping allegations and can rejoin her Istanbul team following the retraction of the Turkish laboratory on its earlier finding on the former UConn star’s urine samples.
USA Basketball
On May 12, 2004, Diana Taurasi was selected to represent the United States with the US Women's National Basketball teamBasketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics (team squads)
Below are the teams for Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics.Parenthetical writing behind a name indicates a uniform number.*Centers: Suzy Batkovic...
at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece. She helped the United States capture the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
, defeating Australia in the championship game. Taurasi represented the United States as a member of the US Women's National Basketball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China, where she started all eight games and helped lead the USA team to win the gold medal.
Taurasi was the second leading scorer on the USA Women's National Basketball team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship held in São Paulo, Brazil. The USA team earned the bronze medal.
Taurasi has also earned a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
as a member of the 2001 USA Junior World Championship team, and a gold medal as a member of the 2000 USA Basketball Women’s Junior World Championship Qualifying team.
Taurasi was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009. The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these participants. At the conclusion of the training camp, the team will travel to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where they compete in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational.
Taurasi was named as one of the National team members to represent the USA Basketball team in the WNBA versus USA Basketball. This game replaces the normal WNBA All-Star game with WNBA All-Stars versus USA Basketball, as part of the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women
FIBA World Championship for Women
The FIBA World Championship for Women is a world basketball tournament for women's national teams held quadrennially...
to be held in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
during September and October 2010.
Personal life
On July 2, 2009, Phoenix police spokesman Luis Samudio says an officer stopped Taurasi at about 2:30 a.m. for allegedly speeding. A police statement says the officer smelled alcohol and gave her several field sobriety tests. Taurasi was then driven to a mobile DUI van where she gave a blood sample, then was cited and released. Authorities later said her blood alcohol level was 0.17. The Phoenix Mercury responded to this news by suspending her for two games later that month. She however was named a reserve for her fourth All-star appearance that summer. After extreme DUI and speeding charges were dropped, Taurasi pled guilty to DUI. She served one day in jail after a judge suspended nine days of the 10-day sentence. The incident had a profound effect on Taurasi.Taurasi had a cameo role in the 2006 film Believe In Me.
Awards and honors
- 2003—Nancy Lieberman AwardNancy Lieberman AwardThe Nancy Lieberman Award, named for Basketball Hall of Fame legend Nancy Lieberman, is given annually by the Rotary Club of Detroit to the nation's top collegiate point guard in women's Division I basketball...
- 2003—Wade TrophyWade TrophyThe Wade Trophy is an award presented annually to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. It is named after three–time national champion Delta State University coach Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first–ever...
- 2003—Naismith College Player of the YearNaismith College Player of the YearThe Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
- 2003—NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerNCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerAt the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
- 2003—Honda Sports AwardHonda Sports AwardThe Honda Sports Award is an annual award in the United States of America, given to the best collegiate female athlete in each of twelve sports. There are four nominees for each sport, and the twelve winners of the Honda Award are automatically in the running for the Honda-Broderick Cup award, as...
, basketball
- 2004—Nancy Lieberman AwardNancy Lieberman AwardThe Nancy Lieberman Award, named for Basketball Hall of Fame legend Nancy Lieberman, is given annually by the Rotary Club of Detroit to the nation's top collegiate point guard in women's Division I basketball...
- 2004—Naismith College Player of the YearNaismith College Player of the YearThe Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
- 2004—NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerNCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerAt the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
- 2004—WNBA Rookie of the Year AwardWNBA Rookie of the Year AwardThe Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
- 2004—Honda Sports AwardHonda Sports AwardThe Honda Sports Award is an annual award in the United States of America, given to the best collegiate female athlete in each of twelve sports. There are four nominees for each sport, and the twelve winners of the Honda Award are automatically in the running for the Honda-Broderick Cup award, as...
, basketball
- 2005—WNBA All-Star Selection2005 WNBA All-Star GameThe 2005 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 9, 2005 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, home of the Connecticut Sun. The game was the 6th annual WNBA All-Star Game. This was the first time Connecticut hosted the basketball showcase.-Rosters:...
- 2006—WNBA All-Star Selection2006 WNBA All-Star GameThe 2006 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 12, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, home of the New York Liberty. The game was the 7th annual WNBA All-Star Game...
- 2006—WNBA Peak PerformerWNBA Peak PerformersThe Women's National Basketball Association Peak Performer Awards are given each year to players who lead the WNBA in scoring, rebounding, and assists...
- 2007—WNBA All-Star Selection2007 WNBA All-Star GameThe 2007 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 15, 2007 at Verizon Center in Washington D.C., home of the Washington Mystics. The game was the 8th annual WNBA All-Star Game...
- 2008—WNBA Peak PerformerWNBA Peak PerformersThe Women's National Basketball Association Peak Performer Awards are given each year to players who lead the WNBA in scoring, rebounding, and assists...
- 2009—WNBA Peak PerformerWNBA Peak PerformersThe Women's National Basketball Association Peak Performer Awards are given each year to players who lead the WNBA in scoring, rebounding, and assists...
- 2009—WNBA All-Star Selection2009 WNBA All-Star GameThe 2009 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 25, 2009 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, home of the Connecticut Sun. The game was the 9th annual WNBA All-Star Game...
- 2009—WNBA Most Valuable Player AwardWNBA Most Valuable Player AwardThe Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season. MVP voting takes place immediately following the regular season. The award recipient is decided by a panel of sportswriters and...
- 2009—WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player AwardWNBA Finals Most Valuable Player AwardThe Women's National Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season....
- 2010—All-WNBA First Team
- Euroleague Winner 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Euroleague Women MVP 2009, 2010
University of Connecticut statistics
| Diana Taurasi Statistics at University of Connecticut | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year | G | FG | FGA | PCT | 3FG | 3FGA | PCT | FT | FTA | PCT | REB | AVG | A | TO | B | S | MIN | PTS | AVG |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–01 | 33 | 127 | 286 | 0.444 | 71 | 184 | 0.386 | 36 | 41 | 0.878 | 106 | 3.2 | 109 | 72 | 29 | 39 | 791 | 361 | 10.9 |
| 2001–02 | 39 | 200 | 405 | 0.494 | 92 | 209 | 0.440 | 72 | 87 | 0.828 | 158 | 4.1 | 208 | 83 | 46 | 50 | 1131 | 564 | 14.6 |
| 2002–03 | 37 | 237 | 498 | 0.476 | 70 | 200 | 0.350 | 119 | 146 | 0.815 | 225 | 6.1 | 161 | 115 | 45 | 32 | 1181 | 663 | 17.9 |
| 2003–04 | 35 | 197 | 432 | 0.456 | 85 | 218 | 0.390 | 89 | 112 | 0.795 | 139 | 4.0 | 170 | 83 | 27 | 53 | 1115 | 568 | 16.2 |
| Totals | 144 | 761 | 1621 | 0.469 | 318 | 811 | 0.392 | 316 | 386 | 0.819 | 628 | 4.4 | 648 | 353 | 147 | 174 | 4218 | 2156 | 15.0 |
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2004
2004 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 34 || 34 || 33.2 || .416 || .330 || .760 || 4.4 || 3.9 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 2.65 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 33 || 33 || 33.0 || .410 || .313 || .801 || 4.2 || 4.5 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 3.39 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 34 || 34 || 33.9 || .452 || .397 || .781 || 3.6 || 4.1 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 2.32 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|25.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 32 || 32 || 32.0 || .440 || .367 || .835 || 4.2 || 4.3 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 2.62 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 34 || 34 || 31.9 || .446 || .360 || .870 || 5.1 || 3.6 || 1.4 || 1.4 || 2.44 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|24.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 31 || 31 || 31.5 || .461 || .407 || .894 || 5.7 || 3.5 || 1.2 || 1.4 || 2.65 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|20.4
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 31 || 31 || 32.2 || .427 || .374 || .912 || 4.3 || 4.7 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 3.55 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|22.6
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2011 WNBA season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 32 || 32 || 30.2 || .449 || .395 || .903 || 3.2 || 3.6 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 3.00 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|21.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |8 years, 1 team
| 261 || 261 || 32.2 || .438 || .370 || .853 || 4.3 || 4.0 || 1.2 || 0.9 || 2.82 || 20.8
Postseason
|-| align="left" | 2007
2007 WNBA Playoffs
The 2007 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2007 season which ended with the Western Conference champion Phoenix Mercury defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock 3-2.-Format:...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 9 || 9 || 33.2 || .504 || .390 || .731 || 4.3 || 3.0 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 2.00 || 19.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 WNBA Playoffs
The 2009 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2009 season.-Format:*The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.**All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings....
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 11 || 11 || 32.9 || .451 || .365 || .893 || 5.9 || 3.8 || 0.7 || 1.3 || 3.00 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|22.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 WNBA Playoffs
The 2010 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2010 season.-Format:*The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.**All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings....
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| 4 || 4 || 31.3 || .473 || .542 || .818 || 5.3 || 3.8 || 1.8 || 0.8 || 4.00 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2011 WNBA Playoffs
The 2011 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a...
| align="left" | Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
| || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |4 years, 1 team
| 24 || 24 || 32.7 || .473 || .398 || .839 || 5.2 || 3.5 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 2.79 || 20.8