The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which resulted in the United States Women’s National Basketball Team claiming its sixth consecutive gold medal was an especially poignant one for Diana Taurasi, given that it may be her final games of her illustrious career.
Taurasi, who some argue is the greatest women’s player in history, received another honor from USA Basketball as she was named its Female Athlete of the Year.
It is the fourth time Taurasi has won the award, last receiving the honor in 2012. In these Olympics, which resulted in her fourth gold medal, she averaged 16 points per game, 91 percent from the free throw line, and 58 percent from behind the three-point arc.
Taurasi also set a record for most threes made in an Olympics contest when she drained six from downtown in the team’s 110-84 victory over Serbia.
“I have been really lucky to learn and play with the best in the game.”
–Diana Taurasi via USA Basketball press release
“When you have a player that can single-handedly put the team in a position to win right from the opening tip, you can’t overestimate how much confidence every other player on the team has, because they know what Diana can do.”
–Team USA head coach Geno Auriemma via USA Basketball press release
Hall. Of. Famer. Congratulations!
