Professional basketball player Diana Taurasi has become a household name in professional sports. WNBA’s all-time leading point scorer and four-time Olympic gold medalist, she has been one of the most important female athletes in the past two decades. But not only is she a brilliant basketball player, she is also an incredible advocate for equality.

Taurasi’s father was a pro soccer player in Italy, but despite the family legacy, she decided to dedicate herself to pursuing basketball. She later explained, "Soccer was becoming really popular, but I think there was more of a future in basketball."

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After having been taken with the first pick in the 2004 Women's National Basketball Association draft, she has spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury, leading the team to three WNBA Championship titles. She is a nine-time WBNA All-Star, a one-time WNBA MVP (Most Valuable Player), and a two-time WNBA Finals MVP. On the international scene, she has won gold medals in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016.

On the court, she is driven and competitive. She often credits her immigrant parents for her fierce determination and strong work ethic. She was also been nicknamed ‘White Mamba’ by Kobe Bryant himself, for her predilection for scoring in crucial situations.

Off the court, she uses her social media platforms to promote equality and inclusion. She shows an ongoing support for the LGBTQ community and, as an active member, speaks out about the challenges of being openly out in professional sports.

When it comes to retirement, the almost 39 years old player is not planning it anytime soon. She just signed a two-year deal with the Mercury and is gearing up to win her fifth Olympic gold medal.

By increasing her never-ending legacy in the sport, she is a role model for aspiring young female players, who she hopes will continue making changes, especially amid gender disparities in collegiate and professional athletics.

“These kids have a different platform,” she said. “They’re very outspoken. You know with social media, things spread like wildfires…For these kids to be able to do this, it shows a lot of character…When you look at the weight room, it’s just a complete joke. From top to bottom, the NCAA is a joke when it comes to women’s sports, we know that.”