Lessons from Diana Taurasi

DT Helped grow the game in more than her profile scoring abilities, she was the ultimate asshole on the court and that's what the WNBA needed to grow.

The year was 2013, Indiana Fever vs Phoenix Mercury. The ball goes out of bounds on the sideline, soon to be inbounded. During the lag time Diana strikes up a convo with me and says “you’re from San Bernardino right. I.E. Shout out.” I was surprised she knew this information. Just a rookie, I was awestruck simply from being in her presence in an actual WNBA game. Not only was I playing against this phenomenal player but also guarding her. She smelled the fresh rookie meat, or tofu I'll say since she's Vegan, and was ready to EAT. I responded “yeah, and you played against my sister when you were at Don Lugo.” Her response was endearingly warm. I honestly don’t recall what words she said next because as the ball was being thrown in, DT hooked her arm under mine, pulled it through making it seem like I was holding on to her. The whistle blows, she’d drawn a personal foul on me. Disoriented, I thought to myself “oh this “b*tch is crazy.” 

That was my first lesson at playing the game within the game. Diana was not only a prolific scorer but a master at the intricacies of this underworld. 

I went on to learn how to play this secondary game. And by my veteran years I was happily reeling in rookies and vets alike with my own versions of drawing a foul. There are many aspects to playing this type of game. First and foremost, to do it effectively you have to be a player who thrives in the type of environment where conflict, shit talking, jersey pulls, bumping a shoulder as you walk by, and a hard foul all fuel you to be a better player. I love it. Diana lived for it and thrived off of it. There are players who engage in this underworld that play worse; those are the people whose skin you can get under. The best part is when they get caught by the refs pushing you back and you just smile. At times this underworld is simply free flowing respectful competitive engagements. Other times, it’s damn near hatred and a personal vendetta. Each fueled by the desire to WIN! 

These types of players are known as DOGS. The ones who are scrappy, have their teammates backs ALWAYS, aren’t afraid to get a tech, and are downright tough as nails - players who find a way to win. Not every star is a DOG, not even close. Diana is. As shown by the moment when Kelsey Plum attempted to drive by Diana thinking she was about to put her old ass on skates…only to find out DT will take your head off.

One of the lessons many have had to learn playing against Diana is to not poke the bear. Don’t give her a reason to get fired up. She’s hard enough to guard without pouring gas on her fire. Yes, DT has played for 20 years, her body has changed, her abilities in various ways, yet her competitive fierceness on the court burned orange hot until the very end. In 2019, one of my deeply competitive teammates clapped after making a good play, not sure it was even a clap in Diana’s face but she took that personally. Next thing you know, all hell broke loose and our chances to advance in the playoffs washed down the drain. We poked the bear. 

Diana’s drive to win is in the company of other competitive greats like Tamika Catchings, Rebekkah Brunson, and Katie Smith. What Diana stands alone in though, is her razor sharp mouth. This is perhaps one of her most underrated contributions to the growth of the women's game. Yes, I'm saying DT cussing people out helped the women's game grow - tremendously. She stands undeniably as the current GOAT with the numbers and longevity to prove it. Diana has won 6 Olympic Gold Medals. She’s a 3 time WNBA champion. An 11 time All-Star. I could go on and on, we know she’s a winner and has all the hardware to show for it. 

Her nastiness on the court was something the WNBA League Office and society at large were not ready for. She played a style of game that was ruthless, would cuss you and the refs out, get a technical and keep right on talking. All while dropping 30 pts. Diana as a woman, over the last 20 years was playing “like a dude” in terms of her shit talking at a time when the league was still trying to make us wear shorter shorts and racerback jerseys for better TV ratings. She was deemed too much to seem “family friendly” for little girls. Too Vulgar. (At times she was quite vulgar. Let's be honest, she's not perfect.) When in actuality, little girls needed to see a woman impassioned, frustrated and unwilling to let things go. As did the players around her. 

I'm grateful to have experienced this larger than life first generation American athlete who changed the game in monumental ways. In doing so, she was often labeled a villain. 

In modern day we are celebrating how competitive the league is. Being a villain now is acceptable, enticing, and dare I say encouraged. DT was doing it well before society and the league caught up. The WNBA’s main marketing commercial in 2024 was built on the tough gritty competitiveness of the players. An ode to the notion that you better be ready when you step out there. The commercial mocked having a calm, low stakes environment. Showing clips of Stewie blocking someone at the rim, Aja flexing with a loud yell, DT in classic form, Chelsea being held back from scrapping with someone along with clips of the skill, accuracy and dynamic play of the talented players. The commercial finishes with its narrator saying “if you love real basketball, welcome to the W.” Diana’s fingerprints are everywhere in the shift in how women's basketball is currently perceived and celebrated as legit hoopers. She modeled that well before the WNBA was putting out dope commercials like this one.

DT paved the way for players to be villains. At a time when we didn't have the space for that type of nuance in our league. Because of Diana, Angel Reese gets to come into the league, talk her shit, AND be celebrated for it. As she should! 

Diana is hands down the GOAT of being an asshole on the court which is the highest compliment coming from a true competitor. Thank you D for all you’ve done. For being the villain at the time we needed it. You never let us settle. You’ve helped grow the league in a dynamic way by being exactly who you are.