The Greatness of Diana Taurasi (Reason #1628)

[CamrnCrz1974]

The resume speaks for itself:

3 NCAA championships
3 WNBA titles
2× WNBA Finals MVP (2009, 2014)
WNBA MVP (2009)
WNBA All-Time Scoring Leader
9× WNBA All-Star (2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2013–2014, 2017–2018)
9× All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2006–2011, 2013, 2014)
3× All-WNBA Second Team (2005, 2016, 2017)
6× Euroleague champion (2007–2010, 2013, 2016)
7× Russian National League champion (2007, 2008, 2013–2017)
3× Russian Cup winner (2013–2014, 2017)
3× Russian League Player of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009)
Turkish National League champion (2011)

BUT:

Did you know that Diana Taurasi has made more three point baskets (1,088 and counting) in her WNBA career than Tamika Catchings (606) and Lauren Jackson (436) COMBINED (1,042)?

Both Catchings (3.7) and Jackson (3.9) had sufficient amounts of attempts per game. But Taurasi has shot better from three (and taken more attempts).

To put it another way, to get to 1,042 made threes, it took Jackson/Catchings a combined 774 games; Taurasi has 1,088 in 426 games.

 

[nan linds]

Does she hold the record for technicals, too? If not, who does?

 

[MilfordHusky]

A little on Dee and FT shooting:

She has made 1,975 FTs. With 30 more, she passes Catch for the career record.

Dee is leading the league in FT shooting at 92.8%. This is her 6th season at 90.0% or better.

Dee’s career mark is 86.7%, even better than Sue Bird. She trails Elena Delle Donne (93.7%), Becky Hammon (89.7%), and her spouse, Penny Taylor (86.8%). Leo is going to be a GREAT FT shooter!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

The resume speaks for itself:

3 NCAA championships
3 WNBA titles
2× WNBA Finals MVP (2009, 2014)
WNBA MVP (2009)
WNBA All-Time Scoring Leader
9× WNBA All-Star (2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2013–2014, 2017–2018)
9× All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2006–2011, 2013, 2014)
3× All-WNBA Second Team (2005, 2016, 2017)
6× Euroleague champion (2007–2010, 2013, 2016)
7× Russian National League champion (2007, 2008, 2013–2017)
3× Russian Cup winner (2013–2014, 2017)
3× Russian League Player of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009)
Turkish National League champion (2011)

BUT:

Did you know that Diana Taurasi has made more three point baskets (1,088 and counting) in her WNBA career than Tamika Catchings (606) and Lauren Jackson (436) COMBINED (1,042)?

Both Catchings (3.7) and Jackson (3.9) had sufficient amounts of attempts per game. But Taurasi has shot better from three (and taken more attempts).

To put it another way, to get to 1,042 made threes, it took Jackson/Catchings a combined 774 games; Taurasi has 1,088 in 426 games.

I wish my mind worked like that!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Does she hold the record for technicals, too? If not, who does?

Even a rose has it's thorns.

 

[bballnut90]

Even a rose has it's thorns.

Gotta be her or Leslie I'd imagine.

 

[SVCBeercats]

UCONN has been bless with three amazing women's basketball players, Taurasi and ...

BREANNA STEWART – BEST UCONN women’s basketball player
2× WNBA All-Star (2017–2018)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2016)
WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016)
All-WNBA Second Team (2016)
WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2016)
4× NCAA champion (2013–2016)
4× NCAA Tournament MOP (2013–2016)
3× Consensus College National Player of the Year (2014–2016)
3× Consensus first-team All-American (2014–2016)
3× AAC Player of the Year (2014–2016)
Gatorade National Player of the Year (2012)
Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2012)
2× USA Basketball Athlete of the Year (2011, 2013)

 

[MilfordHusky]

UCONN has been bless with three amazing women's basketball players, Taurasi and ...

View attachment 33532

BREANNA STEWART – BEST UCONN women’s basketball player
2× WNBA All-Star (2017–2018)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2016)
WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016)
All-WNBA Second Team (2016)
WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2016)
4× NCAA champion (2013–2016)
4× NCAA Tournament MOP (2013–2016)
3× Consensus College National Player of the Year (2014–2016)
3× Consensus first-team All-American (2014–2016)
3× AAC Player of the Year (2014–2016)
Gatorade National Player of the Year (2012)
Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2012)
2× USA Basketball Athlete of the Year (2011, 2013)

It's really hard to rank them, though we do.

Stewie was a 4-time NCAA champion and 4-time Final Four MOP, as well as a 3-time AA and POY. She is the likely WNBA MVP and a possible WNBA champion. She is now close to being the best player in the world. She was the key player in the 111-game win streak.

Maya has "only" 2 NCAA championships but already has 4 WNBA championships, tied for the second most. Her college career was arguably the best ever. She finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd, and 1st in the AP POY voting, while becoming a consensus 4-time All-American. The only players ahead of her in the voting were Candace Parker and Tina Charles. She scored over 3,000 points, never missed a game in a 150-4 career, and never lost at home. She was the key player in the 90-game streak.

Diana is the widely acknowledged GOAT. She was a key on the 2002 best team ever and carried young teams to NCAA championships the next 2 years. She has won multiple WNBA and Euroleague titles and is the greatest scorer in WNBA history. Diana was the key player in the 70-game win streak.

But who is the most decorated player in USAB/FIBA women's history? Hint: She's the best PG ever.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Stewie was a 4-time NCAA champion and 4-time Final Four MOP, as well as a 3-time AA and POY. She is the likely WNBA MVP and a possible WNBA champion. She is now close to being the best player in the world. She was the key player in the 111-game win streak.

Maya has "only" 2 NCAA championships but already has 4 WNBA championships, tied for the second most. Her college career was arguably the best ever. She finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd, and 1st in the AP POY voting, while becoming a consensus 4-time All-American. The only players ahead of her in the voting were Candace Parker and Tina Charles. She scored over 3,000 points, never missed a game in a 150-4 career, and never lost at home. She was the key player in the 90-game streak.

Diana is the widely acknowledged GOAT. She was a key on the 2002 best team ever and carried young teams to NCAA championships the next 2 years. She has won multiple WNBA and Euroleague titles and is the greatest scorer in WNBA history. Diana was the key player in the 70-game win streak.

One thing to consider -- or at least what I consider -- when discussing who the GOAT is or in the GOAT evaluation process - is what Taurasi did during 2003 and 2004.

Stewart never played a full season without Moriah Jefferson or Morgan Tuck (though Tuck missed a good chunk of one season). Stewart also had KML (#1 HS player; #3 WNBA draft pick) for three years, plus Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley (2014 WNBA Draft #6 and #7; Hartley was a top ten player) for two years.

Moore won both of her college titles with Tina Charles anchoring the paint. When Charles graduated, UConn lost in the 2011 semis to Notre Dame.

Taurasi won her first NCAA title with TASS - Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones, Swin Cash, and Sue Bird - all of whom were taken among the top six players in the WNBA draft (three of whom have gold medals at both the World Championships and the Olympics). When that class graduated, Taurasi led a group of freshmen (specifically, Turner, Crockett, and Strother) to the 2003 title. And after the top players in the 2003 high school class went elsewhere, Taurasi still led the team to the 2004 title.

Put it this way, Taurasi had Maria Conlon starting in the backcourt next to her, plus major minutes being played by Morgan Valley and Ashley Valley, who were not in the same conversation as the teammates that Stewart had.

So here are the questions I always seem to be asking as part of this debate:

-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Maya Moore on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?
-- If you put Diana Taurasi on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?

Also, if you are only considering collegiate careers and the debate about the GOAT (so, in essence, the collegiate GOAT, then you have to throw Chamique Holdsclaw's name into the conversation:

--3× NCAA champion (1996, 1997, 1998)
--Sullivan Award (1998)
--2× Naismith Award (1998, 1999)
--2x AP Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
--2x USBWA Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
--2x Honda Sports Award for basketball (1998, 1999)
--2x WBCA Player of the Year (1998, 1999)

 

[baggerbob]

One thing to consider -- or at least what I consider -- when discussing who the GOAT is or in the GOAT evaluation process - is what Taurasi did during 2003 and 2004.

Stewart never played a full season without Moriah Jefferson or Morgan Tuck (though Tuck missed a good chunk of one season). Stewart also had KML (#1 HS player; #3 WNBA draft pick) for three years, plus Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley (2014 WNBA Draft #6 and #7; Hartley was a top ten player) for two years.

Moore won both of her college titles with Tina Charles anchoring the paint. When Charles graduated, UConn lost in the 2011 semis to Notre Dame.

Taurasi won her first NCAA title with TASS - Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones, Swin Cash, and Sue Bird - all of whom were taken among the top six players in the WNBA draft (three of whom have gold medals at both the World Championships and the Olympics). When that class graduated, Taurasi led a group of freshmen (specifically, Turner, Crockett, and Strother) to the 2003 title. And after the top players in the 2003 high school class went elsewhere, Taurasi still led the team to the 2004 title.

Put it this way, Taurasi had Maria Conlon starting in the backcourt next to her, plus major minutes being played by Morgan Valley and Ashley Valley, who were not in the same conversation as the teammates that Stewart had.

So here are the questions I always seem to be asking as part of this debate:

-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Maya Moore on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?
-- If you put Diana Taurasi on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?

Also, if you are only considering collegiate careers and the debate about the GOAT (so, in essence, the collegiate GOAT, then you have to throw Chamique Holdsclaw's name into the conversation:

--3× NCAA champion (1996, 1997, 1998)
--Sullivan Award (1998)
--2× Naismith Award (1998, 1999)
--2x AP Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
--2x USBWA Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
--2x Honda Sports Award for basketball (1998, 1999)
--2x WBCA Player of the Year (1998, 1999)

This year, her 3rd year in the WNBA, with a much deeper league in talent then when Diana or Maya entered, Stewie is showing the World glimpses of how good she is. Seattle might win the title this year, in Stewie's 3rd year. They still need a center, and a fifth starter to take the place of Clark.

 

[Bronx23]

I have always thought since I first saw DT that she was the greatest women's player of all time. Then came MM who I thought became a close second. Then there was Stewie who based upon what she has accomplished so far in her emerging pro career, might well surpass them both. Maybe 5-10 more years will clarify that picture.
Obviously Camryn asks some great questions, which lead anyone to rather mixed results.
Also the fact that they each played different positions and their styles and strengths are so different, comparing them might well be rather frivolous. Based upon ones own perceptions and preferences it could be any one of the three.
I'd just like to add a point that just popped into my head. DT changed the women's game as her persona, skill set, shooting was the closest I had seen to the men's game. And this comes from someone who hates to compare women to men, as I often think we should compare men to women. While MM is truly great I don't see her game transforming her sport. Now BS clearly has done that with her being able to do all the things she does at 6'3".
That's my 2 cents!
Bronx23

 

[Bronxjeff]

The resume speaks for itself:

3 NCAA championships
3 WNBA titles
2× WNBA Finals MVP (2009, 2014)
WNBA MVP (2009)
WNBA All-Time Scoring Leader
9× WNBA All-Star (2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2013–2014, 2017–2018)
9× All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2006–2011, 2013, 2014)
3× All-WNBA Second Team (2005, 2016, 2017)
6× Euroleague champion (2007–2010, 2013, 2016)
7× Russian National League champion (2007, 2008, 2013–2017)
3× Russian Cup winner (2013–2014, 2017)
3× Russian League Player of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009)
Turkish National League champion (2011)

BUT:

Did you know that Diana Taurasi has made more three point baskets (1,088 and counting) in her WNBA career than Tamika Catchings (606) and Lauren Jackson (436) COMBINED (1,042)?

Both Catchings (3.7) and Jackson (3.9) had sufficient amounts of attempts per game. But Taurasi has shot better from three (and taken more attempts).

To put it another way, to get to 1,042 made threes, it took Jackson/Catchings a combined 774 games; Taurasi has 1,088 in 426 games.

You left out her gold medals. What a career!

 

[Waquoit]

Put it this way, Taurasi had Maria Conlon starting in the backcourt next to her, plus major minutes being played by Morgan Valley and Ashley Valley, who were not in the same conversation as the teammates that Stewart had.

You forget about Kelly Schumacher. A big man in the paint that UT (or anyone else) did not have an answer for. And she was a better pro than to date than Morgan Tuck.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I have always thought since I first saw DT that she was the greatest women's player of all time. Then came MM who I thought became a close second. Then there was Stewie who based upon what she has accomplished so far in her emerging pro career, might well surpass them both. Maybe 5-10 more years will clarify that picture.
Obviously Camryn asks some great questions, which lead anyone to rather mixed results.
Also the fact that they each played different positions and their styles and strengths are so different, comparing them might well be rather frivolous. Based upon ones own perceptions and preferences it could be any one of the three.
I'd just like to add a point that just popped into my head. DT changed the women's game as her persona, skill set, shooting was the closest I had seen to the men's game. And this comes from someone who hates to compare women to men, as I often think we should compare men to women. While MM is truly great I don't see her game transforming her sport. Now BS clearly has done that with her being able to do all the things she does at 6'3".
That's my 2 cents!
Bronx23

The 2 players who played most like men, in my opinion, were Chamique Holdsclaw and Maya Moore. That's from a physical standpoint. In terms of swag, no one outdoes Diana.

 

[MilfordHusky]

One thing to consider -- or at least what I consider -- when discussing who the GOAT is or in the GOAT evaluation process - is what Taurasi did during 2003 and 2004.

Stewart never played a full season without Moriah Jefferson or Morgan Tuck (though Tuck missed a good chunk of one season). Stewart also had KML (#1 HS player; #3 WNBA draft pick) for three years, plus Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley (2014 WNBA Draft #6 and #7; Hartley was a top ten player) for two years.

Moore won both of her college titles with Tina Charles anchoring the paint. When Charles graduated, UConn lost in the 2011 semis to Notre Dame.

Taurasi won her first NCAA title with TASS - Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones, Swin Cash, and Sue Bird - all of whom were taken among the top six players in the WNBA draft (three of whom have gold medals at both the World Championships and the Olympics). When that class graduated, Taurasi led a group of freshmen (specifically, Turner, Crockett, and Strother) to the 2003 title. And after the top players in the 2003 high school class went elsewhere, Taurasi still led the team to the 2004 title.

Put it this way, Taurasi had Maria Conlon starting in the backcourt next to her, plus major minutes being played by Morgan Valley and Ashley Valley, who were not in the same conversation as the teammates that Stewart had.

So here are the questions I always seem to be asking as part of this debate:

-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Maya Moore on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?
-- If you put Diana Taurasi on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?

Also, if you are only considering collegiate careers and the debate about the GOAT (so, in essence, the collegiate GOAT, then you have to throw Chamique Holdsclaw's name into the conversation:

--3× NCAA champion (1996, 1997, 1998)
--Sullivan Award (1998)
--2× Naismith Award (1998, 1999)
--2x AP Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
--2x USBWA Player of the Year (1998, 1999)
--2x Honda Sports Award for basketball (1998, 1999)
--2x WBCA Player of the Year (1998, 1999)

Holdsclaw had one of the great collegiate careers ever. Even though Tennessee won 3 championships, I think Maya's 4-time consensus AA status and 3 Wade Trophies trumps Chamique's resume by a little.

In terms of the what ifs, it's not simple, because each player is different and plays a different position. I can see UConn winning in 2011 with Stewie, but not with Diana, because we needed to stop ND's dribble penetration. Diana couldn't do that and would not have outdone Maya's 36 points. When I look at 2003 and 2004, I think any one of the three might have been successful. All of them would have been the best player on the court. That exercise leads me to give Stewie a slight edge.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

 

[bantamlaker]

You forget about Kelly Schumacher. A big man in the paint that UT (or anyone else) did not have an answer for. And she was a better pro than to date than Morgan Tuck.

Just catching up on this thread and want to point out that Schumacher really doesn’t figure into this discussion. CamrnCrz was talking about the championships DT led the team to in 2003 and 2004. Schumacher graduated in 2001.

 

[bbsamjj]

What DT did with the 2003/2004 teams is truly extraordinary. Her 3 NCAA tournaments champs, to go with 3 WNBA champs, puts her over the top for me. Stewart has an argument to be the best of the 3 in college (I'd still give slight edge to DT, and Maya aint far behind), but I think she needs to win a WNBA championship to be #1 overall. She may very well win this year, and she has a LONG career ahead of her. But WNBA championships are very tough to win--arguably tougher than winner NCAA champions when you come from a program like UConn.