Tag: Diana Taurasi

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi face off for the final time on Friday. Here’s how to bet on it.

Who is going to outshine the other in their final matchup?

All odds via Tipico Sportsbook.

The two have a ton of matchups against one another under their belts. I mean, A TON.

Bird holds a 25-20 advantage in regular-season victories, while Taurasi has two more playoff wins (8) than Bird in their head-to-heads.

Diana has the latest laugh, which then led to this post-game embrace.

Although, Bird’s series wins over Diana are probably the more meaningful, as they led to championships.

The Mercury are 5.5-point underdogs on this Friday night despite being at home. And they’ll need this win (and many more down the stretch of the season) if they want to sneak into the 2022 playoffs, which they currently sit on the outside of.

Meanwhile, the Storm are cruising along in Bird’s final go-around. They have +380 odds to win this season’s WNBA championship.

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Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi talks Celtics’ youth, gaining experience in 2022 title run

A more seasoned Celtics will take the lessons of their 2022 title loss to fuel a future championship run.

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The Boston Celtics very nearly won the 2022 NBA title, coming within two wins of the championship a more veteran team in the Golden State Warriors ended up winning by leaning on their experience. That is not to say that the Dubs were the more athletic team, nor the most skilled overall. But without any doubt whatsoever, they were also the less experienced squad when it comes to navigating such lofty heights on the league’s biggest of stages.

Now, having been there, they will be a much more formidable opponent when they likely return to the Finals. In a recent conversation with Diana Taurasi, one of the greatest to play the game in the WNBA, our Cameron Tabatabaie broached the subject of the Celtics’ youth in their battle with the Dubs, and Taurasi had plenty to say about it.

“When you’re 24, you have no clue what’s going on,” explained the UConn product, “and that’s why those experiences are so important when you’re able to get those that early.”

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have reached …

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have reached another historic feat after NBA 2K announced the two WNBA legends would grace the cover of the WNBA Edition of NBA 2K23. Taurasi and Bird embark on this moment together as they did back in college when they won the national title for Connecticut in 2002. From college to the WNBA, they both have had legendary careers.

Exclusive: Catching up with NBA 2K23 cover athlete Diana Taurasi

Check out an exclusive interview with WNBA superstar Diana Taurasi about NBA 2K23, getting better with age, and the issues facing the US.

Basketball fans of all stripes love the popular video game franchise NBA 2K, and the latest edition is full of new features, exciting gameplay and adorned with some of the game’s best players as cover athletes.

Devin Booker and Michael Jordan will be two of the stars of NBA 2K23, while the franchise tapped legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi as the cover athletes for the WNBA edition of the game.

Taurasi is the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time WNBA champion. She’s one of the best to ever do it and a fitting cover athlete for NBA 2K23.

Our Cameron Tabatabaie chatted with Taurasi to celebrate this next milestone in her career. In an interview conducted at the end of June, Taurasi discussed her favorite video games, the state of athletics in the United States and the importance of some of the difficult headlines and issues in the world today.

This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird named cover athletes for NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition

WNBA superstars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird will grace the cover of NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition.

The launch of the latest edition of NBA 2K is an exciting moment for all basketball fans, and the newest version of the game might be the most exciting iteration yet. Last year the franchise featured its first female cover athlete, showcasing Candace Parker on the front of the game. This year, 2K is back with two WNBA superstars.

Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird will grace the cover of NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition. Taurasi is the league’s all-time leading scorer, a three time champion, and a five-time Olympic gold medalist. Bird, meanwhile, is a four-time champ and a thirteen-time All-Star with five Olympic gold medals of her own. Taurasi and Bird join Michael Jordan and Devin Booker as cover athletes for NBA 2K23.

Along with elevating the profile of the women’s professional hoops in the US, NBA 2K announced it is partnering with the WNBA to make a $100,000 donation to Every Kid Sports, a group dedicated to lowering financial barriers of entry to youth sports. The donation is aimed at helping 550 young girls and women across the US in registering for neighborhood basketball programs.

“It really is an incredible feeling to see your hard work memorialized on the cover of a game like NBA 2K23,” Taurasi said of the recognition. “There are so many kids that dream of pursuing a professional basketball career, and they can now also dream of being on the NBA 2K cover, whether they want to play in the NBA or WNBA.”

The WNBA Edition of NBA 2K23 includes special Bird and Taurasi bonus jerseys as part of the standard gameplay. Pre-orders of the game go live on July 7th, while the official release is set for early September.

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Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith had to be separated after a heated exchange on the Phoenix Mercury bench

What happened?!?!?!?

The WNBA is an extremely competitive league, so it’s never really surprising when tempers are flaring. Especially when there’s so much talent around.

But when they’re flaring between two teammates? On the bench? That’s a bit more interesting. Especially when those two teammates are Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi.

In the midst of an 86-74 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, Diggins-Smith and Taurasi had to be separated by teammates on the bench after they had words for each other that didn’t seem too nice.

Diggins-Smith was visibly bothered by something on the bench. She got up and said something to Taurasi which prompted Taurasi to jump up off the bench in response.

Teammates got in between the two and settled things down before getting back to the action, but it was heated. Clearly.

We don’t really know what was said or what the argument was about. But, clearly, it was a big enough deal for them to argue about it.

All in all, this is probably nothing. Just an argument between two teammates about a frustrating game in the midst of a frustrating season.

The Mercury are clearly playing below their standard at this point. They made the WNBA Finals last season and were projected to be one of the best teams in the league. Now, they sit at 2-2 with their two losses coming from the Las Vegas Aces by double-digits. That’s a team they’ll have to go through to get back to the Finals.

You add that frustration together plus everything going on with Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia, it’s just been a tumultuous season for the Mercury. To say the least.

They’re talented enough to right the ship and go on a run at some point. And this argument will probably amount to nothing. But for Mercury fans? None of this can be comfortable to see.

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Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird had the best soundbite as the two debated over a call

This was a classic moment between Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.

The Sue Bird-Diana Taurasi pairing is always golden. Such was the case when the two were teammates at UConn and for Team USA, when they teamed up on an ESPN Megacast for the 2022 Women’s Final Four and the 44 times they battled one another in the WNBA.

Saturday’s 45th game was no different. Both players competed hard throughout the game and found themselves tied up with one another late in the fourth quarter.

Taurasi had possession of the ball but Bird tied her up and the two struggled for possession until the refs blew the whistle.

Was it a foul? Was it a jump ball?

The two legends debated and the ABC broadcast picked up the dialogue.

Phoenix would gain possession of the tip but Bird perfectly defended Taurasi into a missed corner three.

Win, Sue Bird.

But Taurasi and the Mercury got the last laugh as Diana hit a big three moments later and then closed the game with two free throws to put it out of reach for a 69-64 victory.

Nonetheless, we got another classic Bird-Taurasi moment that’ll live forever.

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UConn alums Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird summed up first half against South Carolina perfectly

Taurasi and Bird couldn’t help but wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Coming into the Women’s National Championship Game, everyone knew UConn (three and a half-point underdogs at tip) would face a tall order to upset South Carolina.

Paige Bueckers was great, but Aliyah Boston and Co. were the top seed for a reason. They were the best team all year, and it’d be hard to see them fall short at the final step. For the most part, as the title game unfolded early, those pregame suspicions turned out to come true.

After one quarter, the Gamecocks held a staggering 22-8 lead. It was the Huskies’ lowest points scored in a quarter all year, and Bueckers was scoreless.

But the score alone didn’t tell the story of the massive discrepancy between the two squads.

How do you get just three rebounds in one quarter of a Championship Game? Oh, right, Boston and Brea Beal. But still! Three rebounds!

It wasn’t a stellar start for UConn, to say the least.

Former UConn greats, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird — hosting ESPN’s side-by-side Megacast for the second time in as many nights — summed up the Huskies’ start with one camera pan.

Arms crossed. Stoic looks. No jokes. No analysis. The UConn loyalty unsurprisingly still runs quite strong in these two.

If it’s any consolation for Taurasi, Bird, and the Huskies — they did go on a run to end the first half while cutting South Carolina’s lead to 35-27. It wasn’t all bad. We might have a close game yet.

But oh boy, was that first stanza rough on everyone in Connecticut.

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Diana Taurasi was a hilarious soundbite during the Women’s Final Four and fans couldn’t get enough

Taurasi was a walking one-liner.

There are few things WNBA great Diana Taurasi hasn’t accomplished.

From being three NCAA titles, three WNBA titles, and five Olympic gold medals, to six Euroleague Championships and almost countless individual accolades, she’s one of the most talented people to ever dribble a basketball.

If you weren’t already familiar with her off the court, as it turns out, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer also brings a lot to the table as an analyst. How could someone who’s achieved so much not have a keen eye for the game?

During the Women’s Final Four matchups on Friday night — where Taurasi hosted ESPN’s Megacast simultaneously with fellow great Sue Bird — she brought another element to her terrific insight: A dry comedic wit.

The first notable instance occurred during No. 1 overall seed South Carolina’s (8.5-point favorites coming in) matchup with Louisville.

When the Gamecocks began to pull away for good during the third quarter (before eventually winning 72-59 to advance to the National Title Game), Taurasi commented on their amazing, natural athletic ability.

Nothing more.

Why are Bird and their guest Kelsey Plum cracking up and hiding their faces behind Red Solo cups at Taurasi’s completely factual analysis? Basketball isn’t supposed to be funny, you guys. It’s serious business.

“You can’t help it,” said Plum in reaction.

Later, when Connecticut (one-point underdogs before tip-off) squared off against Louisville, Taurasi chimed in with more trademark excellence.

As former Stanford star and current Sparks centerpiece Nneka Ogwumike joined the Taurasi-Bird dynamic duo, Taurasi mused about the incredible dedication today’s young athletes have to basketball when compared to herself.

Hey, we’ve all been there, right? Why run an extra suicide or eat brown rice for dinner when the pizza and Coke is right there? If one of the greatest athletes ever lives her life to the fullest (i.e. lounging on the couch), why can’t we?

Diana Taurasi: Role Model.

Between the jokes, the honesty, and the analysis, fans watching the ESPN Megacast understandably couldn’t get enough of the ever-charismatic Taurasi. Here’s some reaction:

The Sky brought a locker room door reportedly broken by Diana Taurasi to the WNBA championship parade

So much trolling.

This is some serious A-level trolling right here by the Chicago Sky.

The WNBA franchise is celebrating a championship on Tuesday, and there’s a broken door present at the parade.

What’s the meaning of that? Let’s go back to Sunday: Phoenix Mercury superstar Diana Taurasi reportedly broke the door to the visiting locker room out of anger after losing the series.

So, yes: It appears that’s the door that’s making an appearance at the parade, per Bally Sports’ (and former For The Win writer) Maggie Hendricks.

I mean, does it get any better than that? Check out the photo below:

Amazing.

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