Diana Taurasi Taught Latine Basketball Fans How to Take Up Space in the World

Diana Taurasi's name embodies a relentless pursuit of victory, fierce competitiveness, and unshakeable confidence. For a Latine basketball fan such as myself, Taurasi's career has been nothing short of an inspiration, a testament to what the power of skill and dedication can yield.

With her recent retirement announcement, I couldn't help but reflect on the legacy of a true icon — a player who dominated the court and helped shape the current landscape of women's basketball.

Growing up, soccer and baseball were always the main events in my Latine family. It
dominated our family conversations, and our gatherings, which often revolved around who won a soccer match or the latest MLB season.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered a love for basketball, and it became a personal connection and a cultural bridge with my peers. Beyond the legendary figures like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, another name stood out: Diana Taurasi.

Her relentless drive, fearless leadership, and undeniable skill solidified my love for the sport. And seeing a Latine player break barriers in the way Taurasi did inspired me to break barriers of my own. "Obviously, I'm an American, but I lived in an Argentinian household, and sometimes I'd leave the house, and I thought I was in a foreign country. We grew up in a strong Argentinian household, from the language, the music, and to the food," she once said when asked about Dia Latina, a night where the WNBA honored Latin culture.

Her words spoke directly to me as a child of immigrants, and an immigrant myself, that's exactly how I grew up.

When she was 13, Taurasi and her family returned to Argentina for a year, where she witnessed firsthand the financial struggles of her extended family. The experience gave her a new perspective on the duality of the American immigrant experience. Her family's hardships became part of her own identity, and upon returning to her hometown in California, she adopted a different mindset: "I don't want to waste this. I don't want to waste any opportunities," she once penned.

Taurasi entered the league in 2004, after being drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury during a time when the league was struggling to find its footing within mainstream sports culture. Despite talent and competitive edge, women's basketball was often dismissed, an ongoing issue for women in male-dominated industries.

Taurasi commanded attention and demanded respect every time she stepped on the court. You couldn't deny her the headlines. Her aggressive style of play propelled her to multiple championships, Olympic gold medals, and record-breaking performances — an undeniable display of greatness I always wished to embody.

Her accolades speak for themselves and include three WNBA championships, two WNBA Finals MVP awards, a WNBA MVP award, a WNBA Rookie of the Year award, and six Olympic gold medals. As the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, she even earned the nickname "White Mamba" from Kobe Bryant himself.

But unlike Bryant, and the other household names in the NBA, the women of the WNBA (over 80 percent of which are women of color), have always struggled to achieve equitable compensation. In 2015, Taurasi actually sat out her season with Phoenix Mercury to play overseas, earning $1.5 million compared to the $107,000 salary in the W. "Not only did I want to be the best player in the world, I wanted to be the highest-paid player in the world," Taurasi told Time while reflecting on her time spent in Russia.

This decision from Taurasi was major news at the time, sparking a larger dialogue about the pay equity gap between men's and women's pro ballers — a conversation that's still relevant today. But Taurasi ends her career as one of the highest-paid athletes in the WNBA. And her talent, notoriety, persistence, have created more opportunities for endorsements, larger contracts, and a stronger social media presence that allows players to build their own brands.

Her influence resonates deeply with me as a Latine woman because I've also had to carve out my own space. The challenges Taurasi faced remind me of the obstacles Latinas encounter in the workplace — fighting for equal pay, striving for representation in leadership roles, and proving our worth in male-dominated industries. Like her, we constantly battle to be seen, heard, and taken seriously.

In 2020, Taurasi and teammate Sue Bird once helped secure a groundbreaking agreement with USA Basketball to establish a program that compensated Olympic team members with $100,000 to attend a one-year training camp and train domestically ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and prevented players from having to go overseas to earn a living.

Inspired by Taurasi's demand for respect in the basketball world, I've learned to advocate for myself in my career. I've found myself having to go above and beyond to demonstrate my skills and talent, particularly during crucial interviews and promotion processes. When in doubt, I think: WWDTD (or what would Diana Taurasi do)? She'd show them better than she could tell them, until she couldn't be denied.

Taurasi's career is a testament to what's possible when talent meets perseverance, a reality that deeply resonates with Latinas navigating professional spaces not built for us.

As a Latine journalist in the ever-evolving digital media landscape, I connect with Taurasi's pride in her Argentine heritage and the responsibility of representing our roots. My identity fuels my drive, pushing me to break barriers and challenge expectations in underrepresented spaces. Like Taurasi, success is not just a personal achievement but a way to inspire others — especially young Latinas — to embrace their power, defy limits, and take up space with confidence. The hope that my journey can pave the way for others motivates me to strive for more.

Kimmy Dole is a contributor for PS Juntos known for her sharp insights and compelling storytelling. An entertainment enthusiast, Kimmy immerses herself in the glitz of the industry, delivering a captivating blend of celebrity interviews, insights from industry experts, and the latest pop culture trends. Her work offers readers a genuine and relatable perspective, especially when exploring the complexities of relationships.