When USA Basketball announced its women’s national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, one name in particular came as no surprise.
Team USA captain Diana Taurasi was one of the 12 women on the roster, as she prepares to build upon her legendary Olympic basketball legacy.
The 42-year-old guard has been a staple member of Team USA since her 2004 Olympic debut in Athens. She has been a part of five of the United States’ seven consecutive Olympic gold medals and is looking to add a historic sixth to her trophy case.
Taurasi already holds several United States and Olympic women’s basketball records. She is set to make history the second she steps on the court in Paris, and she will try to chase a few more records with her performance at the 2024 Summer Games.
Take a look at where Taurasi ranks among the oldest women’s players in USA Basketball history and the Olympic records she holds.
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Oldest players in women’s USA Basketball history
When Taurasi suits up for Team USA in Paris, she will become the oldest Olympic basketball player ever and the first women’s basketball player to compete in six Olympics.
USA Basketball legend Sue Bird set a new record when she represented her country at 41 years old at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Taurasi, who just turned 42, will take that title when she checks into her first game in Paris.
You can find the oldest United States women’s basketball players to compete in an Olympic Games below.
Rank | Player | Age | Olympic Year |
1. | Diana Taurasi* | 42 | 2024 |
2. | Sue Bird | 41 | 2021 |
3. | Tamika Catchings | 37 | 2016 |
T4. | Lisa Leslie | 36 | 2008 |
Teresa Edwards | 36 | 2000 | |
T6. | Sylvia Fowles | 35 | 2021 |
Sue Bird | 35 | 2016 | |
T8. | Lindsay Whalen | 34 | 2016 |
Diana Taurasi | 34 | 2016 | |
Katie Smith | 34 | 2008 | |
Yolanda Griffith | 34 | 2004 | |
Dawn Staley | 34 | 2004 |
*Taurasi will not own the record until she plays in the 2024 Olympic Games.
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Diana Taurasi Olympic records
Taurasi already holds a handful of Olympic records — both for the United States and the Games as a whole.
Her five gold medals are tied with Bird and Teresa Edwards for the most in Olympic basketball history, regardless of gender. Taurasi would stand alone in Olympic history if the United States can secure a sixth gold medal in Paris.
She ranks first in women’s Olympic basketball history in games played (38) and 3-point field goals (78). She ranks second in points (414) and third in assists (97) in United States Olympic basketball history.
Taurasi trails the great Lisa Leslie (488) by 74 points for the most in United States women’s basketball Olympics history. She has a chance to break that record at the 2024 Games if she gets enough playing time.
Category | Stat | USA Rank | Olympics Rank |
Gold Medals | 5 | T-1st | T-1st |
Games Played | 38 | 1st | 1st |
Points | 414 | 2nd | 4th |
Assists | 97 | 3rd | T-4th |
3-Pointers | 78 | 1st | 1st |
Team USA women’s basketball Olympic roster 2024
Former WNBA MVPs Wilson and Stewart are the headliners for the 2024 USA Olympics roster. Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, and Alyssa Thomas represent the first-time Olympians for the United States.
Take a look at how the rest of the star-studded lineup shakes out.
Player | Position | WNBA Team |
Napheesa Collier | F | Minnesota Lynx |
Kahleah Copper | G | Phoenix Mercury |
Chelsea Gray | G | Las Vegas Aces |
Brittney Griner | C | Phoenix Mercury |
Sabrina Ionescu | G | New York Liberty |
Jewell Loyd | G | Seattle Storm |
Kelsey Plum | G | Las Vegas Aces |
Breanna Stewart | F | New York Liberty |
Diana Taurasi | G | Phoenix Mercury |
Alyssa Thomas | F | Connecticut Sun |
A’ja Wilson | F | Las Vegas Aces |
Jackie Young | G | Las Vegas Aces |