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Diana Taurasi will play for Team USA on Monday against Japan. The five-time Olympic gold medal winner has shrugged off injury concerns to suit up for the women’s basketball team. Coach Cheryl Reeve might even start her against the Tokyo Olympic silver medal winners.
The former MVP has seemingly gotten past the back and leg issues that forced her to miss three games early this month. Taurasi played in the Phoenix Mercury’s final two games on back-to-back nights. The three-time champ didn’t show any lingering issues when Team USA took on but lost 117-109 to the WNBA All-Stars.
Taurasi was also available in the Americans’ tune-up game against Germany in the UK. She played 16 minutes and contributed five points, two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes. The USA’s veteran leader is raring to face the Japanese again.
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Diana Taurasi faced Japan before in the Olympics
On the way to her fifth Olympic gold medal, Diana Taurasi and the Americans faced the underdog hosts in Tokyo in the championship game. Taurasi started for Team USA, who was then coached by Dawn Staley. She opened the game alongside Sue Bird, Brittney Griner, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
Griner led everyone in scoring with 30 points while Wilson and Stewart combined for 29 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists, eight blocks and four steals. It was Taurasi, however, who controlled the pace of the game. Along with Bird, they orchestrated the USA's offense to near perfection.
Diana Taurasi finished the game with seven points, eight assists, seven rebounds and one steal. Taurasi is quite familiar with Japan which is still coached by Tom Hovasse. Her experience playing against the Asian powerhouse should help the Americans.
Diana Taurasi is a likely starter in the 2024 Paris Olympics
Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve has not announced a starting lineup leading to the 2024 Paris Olympics. But, in two exhibition games, she used the same players to line up for tip-off. Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Diana Taurasi were staples in Reeve’s opening unit.
Unless Reeve pulls a surprise, the quintet is likely opening games in the Olympics. Taurasi and Gray are the playmakers who will run the offense.
The Phoenix Mercury star might not see heavy minutes as she did during the Tokyo Olympics but she is likely remaining a starter. If Taurasi’s back and leg issues return, Reeve has a star-studded roster that can carry the slack.
