LILLE, France — 5-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi is raring to take the court docket on the Paris Video games, and insists her love of basketball is extra essential than profitable medals.
The 42-year-old American is aware of that each Olympics is other and her revel in at her 6th look has taught her to accept as true with the method and benefit from the second.
“I nonetheless love the sport. I really like competing. I do know we at all times speak about profitable and shedding, however I really like the adventure of it, the preparation, the combat. I feel on occasion you get distracted via the wins, however it is the issues that occur ahead of the wins that I have truly loved,” Taurasi mentioned on Thursday.
“It’s a must to benefit from the second when you are right here. The following day we’ve the outlet rite, for a few of us it is the first time and a few people have carried out it so much, however it’s a must to experience it. After which, when it is time to play, that would be the maximum critical factor,” she added.
Taurasi may develop into probably the most embellished staff athlete within the historical past of the Video games if the U.S. ladies carry house a medal. She expects the contest to be tricky on the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille.
“It is at all times tricky: France is hard, Spain has gamers who’re dynamic, Australia is at all times sturdy and arranged, China has younger skill who play other, as does Japan, to not point out Belgium, who will definitely fill this position,” she mentioned.
Intensity and teamwork would be the key to good fortune when the U.S. tackle Japan of their opening sport on Monday, Taurasi mentioned.
“It’s a must to move in the market and be probably the most unselfish you’ve got ever been for your occupation and that takes effort from everybody, we need to construct that chemistry lovely briefly,” Taurasi mentioned.
The Phoenix Mercury guard and WNBA’s all-time main scorer added she remains to be now not desirous about retirement, as she joked about collaborating within the 2028 Video games in Los Angeles: “I will be there — having a lager at the seaside.”
–Reuters, Particular to Box Stage Media
