College years
Following a highly decorated high school career, Taurasi enrolled at the University of Connecticut (UConn) and suited up for women's basketball team during the 2000-2001 season. Playing primarily at point guard and shooting guard, she led the team to three straight NCAA championships, the last one coming in the 2003-2004 season.Taurasi also received many personal accolades at UConn, including the 2003 & 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year awards, the 2003 Wade Trophy and 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year award. She averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in her collegiate career.
WNBA career
Following her collegiate career, Taurasi was selected first overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, a team that went 8-26 in the 2003 season.Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm in her WNBA debut. 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 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 has 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 vs. Minnesota on August 8) and in a game (47 vs. Houston on August 10).
International career
On May 12, 2004, she was selected to represent the United States with the US Women's National Basketball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She helped the United States capture the gold medal, defeating Australia in the championship game.
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.
In addition, she plays in Europe during the WNBA's off-season, inluding a stint in Moscow following the 2005 season.
Personal life
Taurasi's father, a former professional football (soccer) goalkeeper, is a native of Italy, while her mother hails from Argentina. Her sister Jessica also played basketball and she and Diana were teammates in high school.Vital statistics
*Position: Guard*Height: 6 ft. 0 in. / 1.83 m
*College: University of Connecticut
*Team(s): Phoenix Mercury
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External links
*WNBA Player profile*WNBA Player 2004 Draft Prospectus
*USA Basketball bio
*UConn bio
*Unofficial Diana Taurasi fan site
*Diana's Official MySpace Page
ca:Diana Taurasi
Biography courtesy of the brilliant Wikipedia!
