Diana Taurasi is already looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Olympics, a record 6. gold medal

Diana Taurasi addresses the media during a mini camp for the USA women’s national basketball team Tuesday, February 7, 2023 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Diana Taurasi sounds like she never wants to retire.

Taurasi, ahead of her 19th WNBA season this summer, is already looking forward to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

There’s still 17 months to go and Taurasi would be 42 when the games start, but Taurasi isn’t ruling that out.

“It’s something that’s on my radar,” Taurasi told The Associated Press Tuesday after USA Basketball’s training camp in Minnesota. “I’m still competitive, still motivated, still want to play. I still love being a part of USA Basketball.”

Taurasi made her Olympic debut in 2004 where she helped lead the United States to a gold medal in Athens. Since then, Taurasi and the Americans have won four times in a row – including at the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo last year. The United States defeated Japan 90-75 in the gold medal game, scoring a perfect 6-0 at the games.

She has also won three gold medals at the FIBA ​​World Championships, although she missed last year’s event in Australia with a quad strain.

With the Olympics still a long way off and Taurasi looking to retire from the game at some point, a sixth gold medal would break their tie with Sue Bird and set a new Team USA record should they win in Paris next summer.

“When an opportunity comes up to play and be a part of it, I’ve always been very proud of it,” Taurasi said via The Associated Press. “When you get to my age at this point in my career, you just try to win every day. At the moment this is a good opportunity to be part of this team to move forward, we’ll see what happens.”

Diana Taurasi is planning a reunion with Brittney Griner

Taurasi is currently a free agent in the WNBA but is expected to sign a contract to return to the Phoenix Mercury. She averaged 16.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds last season.

Part of being re-signed to Mercury would likely mean a reunion with Brittney Griner, who was freed after 10 months in a Russian prison last year. Griner has vowed to play again in 2023.

Taurasi was one of many in the league who consistently campaigned for Griner’s release. Seeing her again after this ordeal, Taurasi said on Tuesday, was incredibly emotional.

“I’m not a person who lives in a false optimistic world… I thought it would be a long time before I saw my boyfriend again,” Taurasi said. via Winsiders Myles Ehrlich. “We suffered every day. I didn’t believe it until I saw her. Just seeing her smile was emotional for everyone.”

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