What Are Diana Taurasi Net Worth, Salary, Family, and WNBA Stats
Diana Taurasi, also known as the White Mamba, is a famous name in basketball, celebrated for a career so outstanding that she has now reserved a place in the history of women’s basketball as one of the very best ever. The things there are to know regarding this remarkable athlete range from her magnificent achievements on the court to all her financial success and private experiences off it. For example, her story goes beyond conventional basketball features because it comes with factors such as her success in life, her commercial attractiveness, and the effects she creates worldwide. Let us look into her life experience, wealth, earnings, and other facts to explain her honor as a true basketball great.
Diana Taurasi Biography
Date of Birth | June 11, 1982 |
Age | 41 |
Birth Place | Glendale, California, USA |
Position | Guard |
Boyfriend/Husband | Penny Taylor |
College/County | Connecticut/USA |
Height | 6’0″ |
Weight | 163 lbs |
Team | Phoenix Mercury |
Draft Info | 2004 Round 1 Pick 1 |
Experience | 20 years |
Diana Taurasi’s rise to stardom began in Glendale, California, where she was born on June 11, 1982. Diana was brought up in a family of athletes. Her father was a pro soccer goalie from Italy who used to play in Argentina. He met Diana’s mother there and then migrated to the United States before the birth of Diana. That’s why Diana Taurasi’s connection with the sports world was natural. However, she earned her own titles while attending Don Antonio Lugo High School in Chino, California.
The following points encompass the heads and titles that Diana Taurasi during her high school career:
- In high school, Taurasi was the recipient of the 2000 Cheryl Miller Award, presented by the Los Angeles Times as the best player in Southern California.
- She was also recognized as the 1999 and 2000 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year, the 2000 Naismith, and “Parade Magazine” National High School Player of the Year.
- With 3,047 points, Taurasi concluded her prep career ranked fourth in state history. The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) designated Taurasi a distinct American.
- She participated in the 2000 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored twelve points and earned MVP honors.
College Career:
After a notably bright high school career, Taurasi joined the University of Connecticut and started competing for the women’s basketball team in the 2000 to 2001 season under the management of the never-ending coach Geno Auriemma; she then went on to guide UConn to three straight NCAA Championships between 2002 to 2004. Playing mainly at the point guard and shooting guard positions, she steered the team to three consecutive NCAA titles. After a poor shooting day in UConn’s 2001 Final Four loss to Notre Dame, Taurasi vowed, “We’re not losing another tournament game while I’m in this uniform.” They went on to win three straight national championships and registered 18 consecutive tournament wins. As the championship beckoned, his coach, Geno Auriemma, declared, “We have Diana, and you do not,” to express confidence for the win.
Taurasi also won a number of individual accolades while in UConn, such as the 2003 and 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year awards, the 2003 Wade Trophy, the 2003 and 2004 Honda Sports Awards, and the 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year award. Besides the national honors she accumulated at UConn, for most fans in Connecticut, Taurasi has become a legend. For instance, state senator Thomas Gaffey recommended her to be considered for recognition together with Prudence Crandall as the state’s heroine. Over the span of her college career, Taurasi shot an average of 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. While at UConn, her squad compiled a 139-8 record. In 2006, she became part of the first inductee class into the UConn women’s basketball “Huskies of Honor” program.
Let’s take a brief glimpse at the overall accolades of Diana Taurasi throughout her UConn Husky career:
- Became UConn’s first two-time national player of the year in 2004
- Guided the Huskies to three consecutive national championships
- UConn boasted an overall mark of 139-8 during Taurasi’s tenure in Storrs
- Three-time Kodak All-America selection
- Two-time Associated Press First Team All-America choice
- First player in UConn history to total 2,000 points, 600 assists, and 600 rebounds in a career
- No. 1 overall Draft Pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury
- Member of the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team, which captured the gold medal at the Athens and Beijing Olympic,s respectively
- Named 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- Seven-Time WNBA All-Star
- Honored as an All-WNBA selection in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 and was voted as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2009
- Led WNBA with a league-record 25.3 ppg average in 2006
- Ranks fifth all-time on UConn’s scoring list with 2,156 career points
- Ranks seventh for the highest career scoring average with a 15.0 points per game clip.
Diana Taurasi Net Worth 2024: How Much Is She Worth?
Accumulating $4 million of net worth by 2024, Diana Taurasi is expected to have enjoyed an appropriate basketball career and resourceful business undertakings. His earnings are conditioned by various terms: his salary with the WNBA, good endorsement contracts, and contracts that internationalized his financial independence.
Key Financial Highlights:
- WNBA Earnings: Taurasi being one of the more dependable players, has established a position for herself as one of the highest-paid players in the league due to her experience.
- Endorsements: The most influential brands she teamed up with include Nike and BodyArmor, which has not very much helped pack before such an impressive figure. Her collaboration with Nike has gone on to have sports shoes solely for the players, winning the approval from both fans and athletes.
- Overseas Contracts: For the purposes of the WNBA off-season, Taurasi achieved the heights by competing for the best money teams in Russia, and Turkey paid better than Yeditepe in most of her games. And not only did these adventures add to her flow of income, but they also increased her standing internationally.
Diana Taurasi Salary & Contract: What She Earns From Basketball
Most of Diana Taurasi’s fortunes have been realized through her WNBA contracts. Year in and year out, she has astoundingly remained one of the highest earners in the league. Here is all the detailed analysis regarding the recent income regarding the financial info from Sportrac:
Year | Salary (USD) | Notes |
---|---|---|
2017 | $113,500 | A big hike in comparison to the contemporary WNBA players |
2018 | $115,500 | Surge in her game value |
2019 | $117,500 | Surge in her game value |
2020 | $119,500 | Highest possible WNBA salary at the time |
2021 | $221,450 | Signed under the new CBA |
2022 | $228,094 | Continued as Mercury’s star player |
2023 | $234,936 | Extended her legacy with record seasons |
2024 | $234,936 | Reflects her veteran status |
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which came into existence in 2020, marked a major move forward in terms of player salaries and benefits. To Taurasi, it meant an opportunity to earn a competitively priced salary representing his performance in the league.
Diana Taurasi Endorsements: Brands Backing Her Talent
Taurasi has made herself such a wanted product for endorsements in her court skills. All of the endorsements that she garners is nothing compared to the reputation that she is building as a commercial athlete with the big brands in the sports and lifestyle spectrum.
- Nike: Her shoe company, Nike, has been along with her for a long time in producing player-exclusive shoes inspired by her style and character. The shoes not only serve practical purposes but also as a tribute to her legacy in the game of basketball.
- BodyArmor: This vigorous sports drink is really in tune with dedicated, health-hungry, goal-directed athletes like Taurasi.
- Beats by Dre: Her association with Beats goes beyond the sports world into the music culture dimension that connects her with fans of the music world.
These endorsements have increased Taurasi’s visibility and converted her to a world ambassador for the sport and an idol to thousands of young athletes.
Diana Taurasi Family and Social Life
The personal life of Diana Taurasi illustrates how one could juggle a demanding career with family duties. Married to Penny Taylor, a former WNBA player and her fellow Phoenix Mercury teammate, she established an intimate bond with her partner. Outside the court, Taurasi is as phenomenal. In her married life with former WNBA star Penny Taylor, she gave birth to a daughter, Leo, born in 2018 with Penny. She is often seen attending matches supporting her mother.
Family life plays an integral part in Taurasi’s identity and speaks of the balancing act between one side of her job and her family life. Molding the athlete that she is today, her parents, Mario and Liliana Taurasi, immigrated from Argentina and injected into her a strong work ethic and a love for sports.
Parents: Mario and Liliana Taurasi, from Argentina, have been instrumental in maintaining Diana’s growth toward realizing her dreams while keeping her grounded. Their encouragement has continued to be a steady source of inspiration throughout her career.
Nationality: Taurasi’s diverse heritage incorporates Italian as well as Argentinian ancestry and adds another layer to the uniqueness of her identity as a sportswoman.
Diana Taurasi WNBA Stats: Record-Breaking Performance
Diana Taurasi has a different legacy in the history of the WNBA. Stats reflect her dominance in the game by ESPN verbiage:
Category | Career Total | Notes |
Points | 10,600+ | All-time leading scorer in WNBA history |
Assists | 2,300+ | Known for her playmaking skills |
Rebounds | 2,200+ | Shows her all-around game |
Games Played | 550+ | Longevity in the league |
Championships Won | 3 | 2007, 2009, 2014 |
MVP Awards | 1 | 2009 |
Even aside from statistics, there is insight into the power of Taurasi to win tense situations, inspire teammates, and enthrall fans. Also represented by her country at every international competition, she has five Olympic gold medals, a great record indeed in her international supremacy.
Diana Taurasi: Other Highlights
- Injuries: Like any athlete, she has suffered injuries sometimes, but her grit and discipline in rehabilitation made her return even stronger and showed real examples of resilience.
- Retirement Plans: Though there’s speculation whether she will retire, these have shown no signs at all that Taurasi is slowing down. What inspires her more is her love for the sport and the desire to engage at the game’s elite level.
- Shoes: These iconic Nike basketball shoes are a hit with fans and pros alike. The proof that these shoes are designed for performance is by bringing the style of the WNBA legend. Her signature shoes are just the product of that persona.
Conclusion
The journey of Diana Taurasi presents an incredible talent, determination, and patience at its very best. From setting all kinds of records to continuing to develop a legacy outside of basketball, she continues to inspire both followers and present players. This really is a lifetime lived fully, with an impressive net worth, record-breaking WNBA averages, and memories treasured with family. As she continues to leave her mark on history, she serves as a testament to an excellence that proves that greatness knows no bounds.
FAQs
Q. Who is Diana Taurasi married to?
A. Diana Taurasi is married to Penny Taylor.
Q. What is Diana Taurasi’s salary?
A. Currently, Diana Taurasi’s salary is $234,936 in 2024.
Q. How much does Diana Taurasi weigh?
A. Diana Taurasi weighs 163 lbs.
Q. What is Diana Taurasi’s height?
A. Diana Taurasi’s height is 6 feet.
Q. How old is Diana Taurasi?
A. Diana Taurasi is 41 years old as of 2024.
Q. Who is the father of Diana Taurasi’s baby?
A. Diana Taurasi’s wife, Penny Taylor, is the mother of their two children, Leo Michael Taurasi-Taylor and Isla Taurasi-Taylor.
Q. Is Diana Taurasi married?
A. Yes, Diana Taurasi is married to Penny Taylor.
Q. Is Diana Taurasi still playing?
A. Yes, Diana Taurasi is still playing in the WNBA, but she’s still considering whether to retire.