Podcast Summary: "Diana Taurasi on Paige Bueckers + Retirement Plans"
Episode Information:
- Title: Diana Taurasi on Paige Bueckers + Retirement Plans
- Podcast: No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
- Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman
- Release Date: May 24, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of No Offseason, The Athletic welcomes basketball legend Diana Taurasi, an Olympic gold medalist, three-time WNBA champion, and the league's all-time leading scorer. Voted as the greatest of all time (GOAT) in 2021, Taurasi delves into various aspects of her life post-retirement, offers insights into the evolving WNBA, discusses personal challenges, and shares her thoughts on rising stars like Paige Bueckers.
Life After Retirement
Balancing Family and Personal Life
Taurasi opens up about her transition into retirement, highlighting the busyness that comes with family life. Reflecting on her daily routine, she states:
"Retirement is, it's a funny thing because you think you're going to have all this time to do all the things you've wanted to do and next thing you know you're just, you know, you're driving the kids around everywhere. Soccer practice, school, basketball practice, tennis, birthday parties, end of year graduation parties." ([03:11])
She emphasizes the mental and physical toll that professional basketball demands and appreciates the opportunity to be more present with her family:
"It's been nice to be on the other side." ([03:48])
Engaging with Her Children's Sports
Approach to Coaching and Parenting
When discussing her involvement in her children's sports, Taurasi shares her philosophy on letting kids enjoy their activities:
"I try to go and I try to just let the kids have fun… when you let them decide to do it, that's when you get the best outcomes." ([04:06])
She believes in fostering a fun environment, especially for younger children, while understanding that as they grow older, structured drills become more important.
Observations on the WNBA Season Kickoff
Opening Weekend Excitement
Regarding the recent WNBA season kickoff, Taurasi admits she didn't watch much of the opening weekend but shares her enthusiasm:
"Opening weekend is the best. I think there's so much fan anticipation. You haven't seen your team in six months. You haven't seen these players." ([04:39])
She highlights the excitement from both fans and players, noting that it's the commencement of what she describes as the "best summer."
Phoenix Mercury's First Game
When asked about the Phoenix Mercury's first game, Taurasi clarifies she didn't watch it:
"I didn't even watch the Phoenix Mercury for opening night. It had to be their night and I'm so glad we won." ([05:16])
She praises Satu played a remarkable night and expresses her excitement for the team's future with KA's return.
Thoughts on Career Records and WNBA Growth
Impact of an Expanded Season
Taurasi discusses the WNBA's schedule expansion to 44 games, reflecting on the inevitability of records being broken:
"Just if you're good at math, all the records will be broken now. I mean, there's just more games or more playoff games now." ([05:57])
She emphasizes that with more games, statistical milestones like points, assists, and three-pointers are bound to be surpassed, viewing it as a natural progression for the league.
CBA Negotiations and the Future of the WNBA
Prioritizing Player Salaries
Addressing the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, Taurasi underscores the importance of increasing player salaries:
"Once you start increasing player salaries and all the other things fall in line for a long time. … you have to pay the best players in the world, in the best league in the world what they deserve." ([06:49])
She believes that elevated salaries will drive improvements across various aspects of the league, including viewership and media deals. Taurasi anticipates a balanced negotiation where both players' and owners' interests are addressed.
Setting Salary Benchmarks
When probed about specific salary figures, Taurasi shares her perspective on appropriate compensation:
"I think that million dollar mark is always a sexy one. Right. I think that's when you feel like, as a player, you're making what you should make." ([07:46])
She acknowledges that while higher numbers like $2 million might be possible, the final figures will depend on the league's revenue and other financial factors. Taurasi also emphasizes the need for standardized practice facilities and overall player welfare.
Personal Challenges: Managing Eczema
Living with Eczema as an Athlete
Taurasi candidly discusses her lifelong battle with eczema and its impact on her basketball career:
"Eczema, it's something that I battled with my whole life. … when it flares up, it's really noticeable, it's uncomfortable." ([08:50])
She recounts her struggles during her college days at UConn and the challenges of managing the condition while maintaining an athletic performance. Recent advancements in her treatment, particularly with Dupixent, have significantly improved her quality of life:
"I started Dupixent and it's really changed my outlook on an everyday basis on how eczema and I have this, you know, a long lasting relationship." ([09:41])
Taurasi highlights the importance of finding effective treatments and accepting one's condition to move forward positively.
Advice to Paige Bueckers
Guiding a Rising Star
Taurasi offers thoughtful advice to Paige Bueckers, who has recently debuted in the WNBA with two games under her belt:
"The best thing about playing in Connecticut is that you don't lose a lot of games. And the worst thing about playing at Connecticut is, you know, you don't lose a lot of games." ([10:42])
She elaborates on the transition from a dominant college program to the competitive landscape of the WNBA, emphasizing the importance of personal and team growth:
"From game one to game two, she was a different player, and from game two to game ten, she's going to be a different player." ([10:42])
Taurasi praises Bueckers' grounded nature, patience, and preparation, expressing her confidence in Paige's potential to become one of the league's best players:
"Paige just has tremendous talent. And once it's unlocked, you know, I'm going to be excited to watch her play." ([12:02])
Future in Basketball: Ownership Aspirations
Pursuing Leadership Roles
Discussing her future involvement in basketball, Taurasi reveals her aspirations beyond playing:
"Ownership is something that I've always been passionate about and, you know, I'm working towards that and, you know, having different conversations." ([12:50])
She admires Sue Bird's new role with USA Basketball and expresses her intent to leverage her extensive experience to potentially lead a team one day:
"I'm going to use all those things that I've learned in the last 20 years of my professional career and even before that to hopefully one day lead a team." ([12:50])
Fun Segments
Passing the Slick Back Bun Torch
In a lighter moment, Taurasi discusses her iconic slick back bun and designates Juju Watkins as the heir to her hairstyle:
"There is one special young lady from Los Angeles, Southern California that is one of my favorite players of all time already by Juju. So by all means, I will pass the bun torch to Juju today." ([14:00])
Technical Foul Leaders Prediction
Taurasi humorously predicts potential leaders in technical fouls for the season:
"I'm going to go. I have two great candidates. Either my girl, Natasha Cloud and sneaky one. I'm going to go. Caitlin. Caitlin's Caitlin Sharp." ([14:27])
She playfully acknowledges her own propensity for drawing technical fouls, reflecting her competitive and outspoken nature on the court.
Conclusion
Diana Taurasi's conversation on No Offseason offers a deep dive into her life post-retirement, her perspectives on the evolving WNBA, personal challenges, and her aspirations for the future. Her insights provide invaluable guidance for upcoming talents like Paige Bueckers and underscore her enduring passion for basketball both on and off the court.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
- Retirement Insights: "Retirement is, it's a funny thing because you think you're going to have all this time to do all the things you've wanted to do…" ([03:11])
- Record-Breaking Reality: "Just if you're good at math, all the records will be broken now." ([05:57])
- Salary Negotiations: "Once you start increasing player salaries and all the other things fall in line…" ([06:49])
- Eczema Management: "I started Dupixent and it's really changed my outlook…" ([09:41])
- Advice to Paige: "Paige just has tremendous talent. And once it's unlocked, you know, I'm going to be excited to watch her play." ([12:02])
- Ownership Aspirations: "Ownership is something that I've always been passionate about…" ([12:50])
This comprehensive summary captures the essence of Diana Taurasi's interview, highlighting her experiences, thoughts on the sport's future, personal battles, and her enduring legacy in women's basketball.