Considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Diana Taurasi, current guard of the Phoenix Mercury, she has an outstanding track record being 3 times WNBA champion, 3 times world champion and 4 times Olympic champion. This makes her one of the five athletes in history to win 4 gold medals in this type of competition. In 2018, she was elected the first player in the league to have scored 1,000 points three-point shots and also the first to score 8,000 points in the 80-74 victory against New York Liberty.
Taurasi is different, competitive, raises the pace of the game and shows how easy it is to score in decisive situations. She also doesn’t hide her admiration and gratitude for Kobe Bryant, his greatest inspiration ever since she was a child, the ‘responsible’ for the infinite pitches on the basketball backboard she had in the backyard, all because she had always dreamed that one day she would be his female version. The universe was generous, and the reciprocal dream became true, since the idol already accompanied her and recognized her talent nicknaming her “White Mamba”.
Kobe Bryant's participation in helping the growth of women's basketball has made all the difference and has become another connecting link with Diana, who for many years has also endeavored to ensure gender equality in the sport.
Last August 24, Taurasi paid tribute to Kobe on his birthday. In addition to having the best score of the season against the Washington Mystics, she wore a jersey with his name and number.