Biography of Diana Taurasi

International force
Barely three months into her rookie campaign when the WNBA went on hiatus for the Athens Games, the Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi was one of Team USA's leading contributors. The youngest player on the team, she played in each of the eight games, averaging 19 minutes (fifth on the team) and 8.5 points (tied for fourth). At the 2006 World Championships, where the U.S. won bronze, Taurasi averaged 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists, a performance that led to her award as the 2006 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. At the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, which the U.S. won and thus qualified for the 2008 Olympics, Taurasi was the third-leading scorer with 11.0 points per game.

Shining pro
Following a stellar collegiate career, Taurasi was taken first overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft. Especially after leading the Mercury to its first championship, she has yet to disappoint in the pros. Taurasi averaged 17.0 points a game as a rookie, led the league in scoring (25.3 ppg) for the 2006 season, and finished third (19.2 ppg) in 2007. The 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year and a three-time all-star, Taurasi's basketball exploits led to the Air Taurasi, Nike's first signature women's shoe, which was released in fall 2005.

Not relaxing in Russia
During the past three WNBA off-seasons, Taurasi traveled to Russia to play professionally for Spartak Moscow. "It's an interesting country," she says. "It takes a little bit to get used to their culture, their food, the weather. But after being there for two years, I've really enjoyed it. The people are very passionate about women's basketball." U.S. teammates Sue Bird and Tina Thompson, and Australian national player Lauren Jackson also play for Spartak. During the 2007-08 Russian season, Taurasi shared a house in Moscow with Bird and Jackson.

Titletown, Conn.
The Naismith National Player of the Year in 2003 and '04, the charismatic Taurasi proved such a star at the University of Connecticut that even non-sports periodicals such as The New Yorker rushed to profile her. Taurasi won three NCAA championships in four seasons with the Huskies and had plenty of help; the 2002 title team also featured fellow 2004 U.S. Olympians Sue Bird and Swin Cash. A two-time first-team All-American, Taurasi averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds as a collegian. She left UConn as the school's career leader in assists and 3-pointers, and is third on the school's all-time scoring list with 2,156 points. Taurasi was so good she rendered the notorious Sports Illustrated cover jinx inoperative after appearing with Huskies men's standout Emeka Okafor on the front of the 2003-04 college basketball preview issue. Both the UConn men and women went on to win NCAA titles.

Roots
Taurasi's father, Mario, who once was a professional soccer goalkeeper, was born in Italy and moved to Argentina as a child. Her mother, Lili, was born in Argentina. The Taurasis moved to California in 1980 shortly before Diana was born. After taking up basketball in fourth grade, Taurasi developed into the best high school player in the country in 2000, playing for Don Lugo High School in her hometown of Chino, California. She scored 3,047 career points in high school.