Diana Taurasi injury update: Latest on WNBA, Team USA star ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics
Team USA's 5x5 women's basketball team is gunning for its eighth gold medal in a row in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. But the most decorated player on the roster — Phoenix Mercury star and five-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi — may not be available for the team in Paris.
Taurasi has missed three of the last four Mercury games due to a lower left leg injury. Phoenix is 2-1 in those games with wins over the Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks following a loss to the Connecticut Sun.
With the opening ceremonies just weeks away, she may miss out on gunning for a record-sixth gold medal in women's basketball. Here's what we know about the WNBA star.
When will Diana Taurasi return?
There's no timetable for Taurasi's return to the court on WNBA injury reports. She has been ruled out of Friday's game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, and the Mercury have signed rookie guard Celeste Taylor to a seven-day contract to fill Taurasi's roster spot for now. This is typical for WNBA teams to fill a spot due to injury.
Diana Taurasi, who is missing tonight's game vs. Fever due to a left leg injury, with new member of the Mercury Celeste Taylor during the shoot around in Indiana. #ValleyTogether #WNBA @Sportscronkite
Photo credits- @PhoenixMercury pic.twitter.com/HkkQelYUVE— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) July 12, 2024
Mercury vs. Fever: How to watch Phoenix's rematch with Caitlin Clark
While she won't be on the court for Phoenix in the short term, Mercury and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia announced today that courts at the new Mercury facilities will be named after Taurasi. This comes as Phoenix is set to host the WNBA All-Star Weekend on July 20.
It’s only right that the biggest WNBA All-Star Weekend in the history of our league begins by honoring the GOAT, Diana Taurasi. We are excited to name the courts at our brand new @PhoenixMercury practice facility after the best to ever play in the WNBA. Congrats @DianaTaurasi! pic.twitter.com/Mcp31K7m7T
— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) July 12, 2024
Will Diana Taurasi play in 2024 Olympics?
It's unclear. Team USA's first game in the Summer Olympics is set for Monday, July 29. USA Basketball officials have stated that an alternate can replace a player currently on the roster — such as Taurasi — up until 7:30 a.m. July 26. That marks 48 hours before the first game of the Olympic tournament between Spain and China and gives exactly two weeks from today for Taurasi to heal up for the trip to Paris.
Diana Taurasi injury history
This is Taurasi's first notable injury since she broke a bone in her foot in 2021. She missed some time but played through it to help the Mercury make the 2021 WNBA Finals, where they ultimately lost 3-1 to the Chicago Sky.
Prior to that, she missed time in 2019 after back surgery and missed most of the 2012 season due to injuries including a strained left hip flexor.
Who could replace Diana Taurasi on Team USA?
Team USA has not provided a list of alternates for the roster, but The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Clark and Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones are the top two choices for replacements.
“Caitlin Clark and Brionna Jones are top of the alternates list for Team USA if there is needed to be a replacement”@ShamsCharania on Team USA women’s basketball roster for the 2024 Olympics pic.twitter.com/tAnKeGlKnI
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 10, 2024
Of the two, Clark would be the likely pick because she's also a guard. Team USA is doesn't lack depth at the position, though, with the likes of prior Olympians Jewell Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young in the backcourt.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diana Taurasi injury update: Latest on Team USA, WNBA star
