Diana Taurasi has gotten a lot of accomplishments in her decorated basketball career. Earlier this month, the Phoenix Mercury decided to retire her jersey. And not that, she was also inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Having played some great basketball, Taurasi claimed to be deserving of Kobe Bryant-level pay. But not always does the 43-year-old like to claim the spotlight all by herself. In fact, there are times when she is happy to pass on the baton to the next generation of players. And that is exactly what the 3-time WNBA champion did when she met a young Olivia Vukosa.
Olivia Vukosa Thrilled To Receive Major Honor From Diana Taurasi
Vukosa is looking to take over the NCAA realm by storm. With her high school numbers shooting through the roof, the youngster is already making waves on the circuit. And that is the reason perhaps, why she got the opportunity to rub shoulders with a legend.
Vukosa recently won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. But even before she could receive the trophy, Vukosa got a pleasant surprise. As she walked in through the door, the UConn commit saw Taurasi waiting for her, smiling, with the trophy in her hand.
“I didn’t even see the trophy, I didn’t see anyone. I saw her through the door and I started crying. It’s definitely a surreal experience and something I’m definitely going to cherish forever… She’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long, long time and it just doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream,” said Vukosa to CBS Sports.
The moment Diana Taurasi surprised UConn commit Olivia Vukosa with the 2026 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award (video courtesy of Gatorade)
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Now, speaking about the New York native, she is the fourth-seeded player in the 247Sports class of 2026. Averaging a solid 19.4 points and 3.8 assists during her junior year, Vukosa is surely destined to do great things. Interestingly, she is also the first UConn commit to win the prestigious award since Paige Bueckers in 2021.
Meanwhile, Taurasi did not just hand over her award. She also made sure to pass on some words of praise.
Diana Taurasi Heaps Praise On Olivia Vukosa
Speaking with CBS Sports, the 2009 WNBA MVP looked pretty impressed with the 6ft 4inches star. While she has a lot to learn and improve in her game, Taurasi saw some sparks in her. Analyzing her game, she praised Vukosa’s versatility. Her ability to play in multiple positions, according to Taurasi, is a big plus point.
“Her IQ, her footwork, her great hands. I think when you play with great players, can they make things that are really hard look easy? She does that, and that’s a testament to her work ethic, on and off the court the way she works. I think when she’s on the court, it’s hard to know what she’s going to do next because she’s just as great a passer as she is a scorer,” said the 11-time WNBA All-Star.
Thus, with a lot of promise shown, fans will be eager to see how things pan out for Vukosa next.