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Diana Lurena Taurasi (born June 11 , 1982 in Chino, California ) is a professional Basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). COLLEGE YEARS After having a very notable High School career, Taurasi began to play for the University Of Connecticut (UConn) women's basketball team during the 2000 - 2001 season. She led her team to three straight NCAA Championships , the last one coming in the 2003 -2004 season. In Connecticut , Taurasi was admired by many fans. Taurasi won the 2003 Naismith Award and College Player of the Year Awards. WNBA CAREER In April 2004 , Taurasi was the first pick overall in the WNBA Draft to the Phoenix Mercury , a team that had earned the first selection at the draft with an 8-26 won-loss record in the 2003 season. Soon after, she began to build a supportive fan base in Phoenix as she had in Connecticut. She had 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm in her debut as a WNBA player. Taurasi wears number 3, the number she wore at UConn, with the Mercury. Her jersey has replaced Michele Timms ' number 7 jersey as the best-selling Mercury jersey as of 2004. In September 2004 , she was awarded with the WNBA Rookie Of The Year Award . INTERNATIONAL CAREER On June 19 , 2004 , she was selected to represent the United States with the US Women's National Basketball Team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece . That night, she scored 22 points against fellow national team member Lisa Leslie and the Los Angeles Sparks , but could not prevent a 76-74 Mercury defeat. Taurasi would help the national team win the Olympic Gold Medal in 2004. TRIVIA
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