Diana Lorena Taurasi is one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time. Born on June 11, 1982, In the 2004 WNBA draft, Phoenix picked her as the first player taken. Taurasi has won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, three WNBA championships, a record-setting five Olympic gold medals, one WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, two WNBA Finals MVP Awards (in 2009 and 2014), five scoring titles, and three FIBA World Cups.
Kobe Bryant gave her the nickname “White Mamba” because she likes to score when it really matters. Taurasi is one of 11 women who have won an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA title, a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup, and a WNBA title. However, behind her success lies a personal story of love and family that many fans may not know.
Meet Penny Taylor, Taurasi’s Wife And Former Teammate
Penelope Jane Taylor was born on May 24, 1981, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She had a successful basketball career of her own, winning three WNBA championships with the Phoenix Mercury and two Olympic medals with the Australian women’s national team. After retiring from playing, she transitioned to a front-office career as the Director of Player Development and Performance for the Mercury.
Taylor’s love for basketball started at a young age when her parents enrolled her in the Belgrave South Red Devils basketball club at the age of four. She later moved to the Nunawading Spectres and attended Upwey High School in Upwey, Victoria. After graduating, she earned a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. During her 19-year career, Taylor played for various teams in Australia, China, Italy, Turkey, Russia, and the United States.
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Inside Diana Taurasi And Penny Taylor’s Relationship
Taurasi and Taylor first met as teammates on the Phoenix Mercury in 2004. They started dating eight years later and got married on May 13, 2017, a day before the Mercury’s season-opening game against the Dallas Wings. The wedding was a private affair, attended by family and close friends. Taurasi later described it as “the most amazing and beautiful day of our lives.”
The couple has largely kept their relationship out of the public spotlight, preferring to focus on their respective careers and personal lives. However, in an interview with ESPN in May 2017, Taurasi spoke about their relationship and what makes it work. She said, “We both found something in each other that made us each a better person, a better teammate. And you don’t get to find a lot of people like that in life.”
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The Couple Has Two Kids
In 2018, Taurasi and Taylor welcomed a baby boy, whose name and other details they have chosen to keep private. The couple has not shared much about their son or their experience as parents, except to say that they are happy and grateful for their family.
Despite their busy schedules and high-profile careers, Taurasi and Taylor prioritize their family and make time for each other and their son. In an interview with the Arizona Republic, Taurasi said, “We’re like every other family. We go through ups and downs, and we have our challenges, but at the end of the day, we always come back to each other and support each other.”
Taurasi’s legacy in basketball is secure, but she also serves as a role model and inspiration for the LGBTQ+ community. As an openly gay athlete and advocate, she has used her platform to speak out about issues such as gender equality, social justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Her marriage to Taylor is not only a testament to their love and commitment but also a symbol of progress and acceptance in sports and society.