Diana Taurasi

Diana Taurasi Lurena ( born June 11, 1982 in Chino, California) is an American professional basketball player. In 2012 she plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association and for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Euro League Women.

Playing career

High School

Diana Taurasi had a very good high school career. She made 3047 career points in her time at the Don Lugo High School. She got the Cheryl Miller Award 2000, an award from the Los Angeles Times for the best player in Southern California.

College (2000 to 2004)

She came to the 2000-01 season at the University of Connecticut ( UConn ). There she led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships (2002-2004). It was 2003 and 2004 Naismith College awarded the Player of the Year Award and the Wade Trophy in 2003. She was also named by the Associated Press 2003 Player of the Year. During her college days Diana scored an average of 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Diana Taurasi graduated from the University of Connecticut degree in sociology.

Professional basketball (since 2004)

WNBA (since 2004)

In the WNBA Draft 2004 Taurasi was selected first by the Phoenix Mercury. She has won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award after she was able to achieve an average of 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in her first season.

Although she has seen a considerable section of 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the 2005 season, the mannschaftliche success with the Mercury remained again.

In the 2006 season, Paul Westhead was named the new head coach, developed under which Taurasi to one of the star players in the league. She scored with an average of 25.3 points per game the highest in the entire league and also unveiled on August 10th with 47 points against the Houston Comets to a new record ( on 25 July 2007 was also Lauren Jackson reach that mark ). Nevertheless, did not reach the Mercury for the sixth time in a row the playoffs. Because of their outstanding achievements in the WNBA Taurasi was honored in 2006 as Honorable Mention in the election for the WNBA All- Decade Team.

In the 2007 season she reached for the first time with the Mercury the playoffs, where they could win the championship right away. In the finals the Mercury defeated the Detroit Shock 3-2 in games. Although Taurasi in these five games scored an average of 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, she was not chosen as the best player of the finals series. After winning the championship Westhead resigned as head coach. His body took over Corey Gaines.

In the following season in 2008 Taurasi, who finished the regular season again with the best points average of the league ( 24.1 points per game ) missed, surprisingly the playoffs.

The 2009 season presented up to this point successful for Taurasi Represent was first appointed to the most valuable player of the regular season in 2009 and was also able to win the Mercury for the second time the championship. In the finals, the Mercury sat just 3-2 in games against the Indiana Fever by, unlike in 2007, Taurasi was named Finals MVP for this time.

The 2010 season ended Taurasi again with the best points average in the league, which she was awarded for the third consecutive year, with the peak performer. Because of their outstanding performance, she managed with the Mercury again a place in the playoffs, where they clear, however failed because of the Seattle Storm.

International ( since 2005)

Since 2005 Taurasi plays in the WNBA season breaks for various clubs in Europe. Between 2006 and 2010 she played for Spartak Moscow Region with which they won the Euro League Women four times. In the WNBA season break 2010/2011 they stood at Turkish club Fenerbahce under contract.

24 December 2010 proclaimed the Turkish Basketball Federation that Diana Taurasi has tested positive for the stimulant modafinil in a doping test in the Turkish league. Modafinil is used due to its growing entertaining and concentration -promoting effect for improving cognitive performance. Your club Fenerbahçe has subsequently suspended Taurasi and until the B sample. On 6 January 2011, the Turkish Basketball Federation announced that the B sample tested positive for the banned substance modafinil. Shortly after, Fenerbahçe on their website that the contract was terminated with Taurasi. On 16 February 2011 Taurasi was acquitted of all charges and canceled the two -year ban for doping. The Turkish lab - which was suspended in 2009 because of irregularities before - had withdrawn his findings.

On 12 May 2011 Galatasaray announced on the club's official website, the obligation of Diana Taurasi known.

National (since 2000)

Taurasi won the gold medal with the U.S. national basketball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Furthermore Taurasi won the bronze medal at the 2006 World Cup. Moreover, she won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in 2001 and a gold medal with the 2000 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Qualifying team.

Awards and achievements

WNBA 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
2005 WNBA All-Star Selection
2006 WNBA All-Star Selection
2006 WNBA Peak Performer (points)
2007 WNBA All-Star Selection
2008 WNBA Peak Performer (points)
2009 WNBA Peak Performer (points)
2009 WNBA All-Star Selection
2009 WNBA Most Valuable Player Award
2009 WNBA Finals MVP Award
2010 All - WNBA First Team
2010 WNBA Peak Performer (points)
2010 WNBA All-Star Selection

College 2003 Nancy Lieberman Award
2003 Wade Trophy
2003 Naismith College Player of the Year
2003 NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2004 Nancy Lieberman Award
2004 Naismith College Player of the Year
2004 NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Europe 2009 Euro League MVP Women
2010 Euro League MVP Women

Career Stats

Key to Career statistics: ( GP = Total Games; GS = games in the starting lineup, MPG = Minutes played per game, FG % = throw percentage from the field; 3P % = throw percentage from 3-point range, FT % = Free throw percentage, OFF = offensive rebounds per game; DEF = defensive rebounds per game, RPG = rebounds per game, scored APG = assists per game, blocks per game BPG = achieved, PPG = points scored per game)

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