Three members of Planet Mercury are landing in Paris for the 2024 Olympics Games.
Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Kahleah Copper will look to lead Team USA to an eighth straight gold medal.
Let’s start with the five-time gold medalist who is now the first basketball player in history, men’s or women’s, to earn six Olympic selections:
“I got to sit in a locker room with Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, and Katie Smith,” Taurasi said. “That’s a lesson in its own and you can’t buy lessons like that.”
Not to mention – breaking her tie with best friend Sue Bird with a sixth gold medal would be extra sweet for the WNBA’s all-time scoring leader.
As for the Mercury’s current leading scorer at 24 points per contest – Kahleah Copper is making her Olympic debut, and for her, that’s right at the top of the list of accomplishments:
“Right now…it’s definitely number one,” Copper said. “Being able to get Finals MVP playing with greats…it could have went any way, but for me, that season was so special because I felt so let down not making that [Olympic] team, but for me to turn around and win a championship and then playing with freaking future hall of famers. For me to get Finals MVP, nobody in the beginning of the season would have said it would’ve been me…Y’all don’t see what it takes…you prepare so long for this, but for it to happen to me in year nine – so special.”
She’ll be dawning number seven, originally sported by basketball hall of famer Sheryl Swoopes:
Last but never least – Brittney Griner – going for her third Olympic gold medal, and excited to represent the Mercury:
“That means everything,” Griner said. “Credit to the Phoenix Mercury. I guess we got something special out here in the Valley. Must be in the water. Just super happy I got to share this experience with two of my teammates…It’s just a different beast when you put on that USA jersey…definitely going to cherish this time, this moment, lucky to be here and I hope everybody from the Valley tunes in. They better.”
That also means during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, when it’s All-Stars vs Olympic squad, all three will be part of the hometown spectacle.
Team USA will take on the All-Stars on July 20 at Footprint Center at 5:30 PM.
Eliav Gabay
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