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Maybe no lady’s basketball participant of all time has ever had as outstanding a run as Diana Taurasi has had for Staff USA.
Taurasi has 5 Olympic gold medals to her identify, three extra world championships and has performed extra video games for the crew (38) than anyone else. She additionally sits second in all-time scoring for Staff USA behind solely Lisa Leslie.
However when Taurasi took the court docket for Staff USA on Thursday on the 2024 Summer season Olympics in opposition to Belgium, she seemed each little bit of 42 years previous.
Taurasi went 0-3 with zero factors, zero assists, zero rebounds, one turnover and two fouls in an 87-74 Staff USA win that was far nearer than it had any enterprise being.
The identical Belgium crew misplaced 83-69 in its opening sport on Monday.
And whereas america received its 57th consecutive sport in worldwide competitors and locked up a spot within the knockout rounds, all anyone may discuss was Taurasi.
“Fan of Taurasi however don’t perceive why she’s getting a lot run contemplating she in all probability shouldn’t be on the roster,” one fan wrote.
“Diana Taurasi… I respect your profession… however you shouldn’t be right here,” mentioned one other.
Taurasi has had an unbelievable profession. And in another circumstance, she’d deserve a spot primarily based on that alone. However the USA roster is insanely aggressive. So with large names corresponding to Caitlin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale sitting at house, it’s arduous to see Taurasi stinking up the joint.
“Actually, on the subject of that stuff it actually doesn’t have a lot to do together with your sport. It’s actually about who they really feel like suits with the crew,” Ogunbowale mentioned of the choice course of. “I may already inform that wasn’t the kind of vibe they need. So I truly took my identify out the pool months in the past.”
Staff USA is sweet sufficient that Taurasi in all probability received’t value them a gold medal. However it’s unhappy that we’re at some extent the place it’s even a consideration.
