Oldest players in women's USA Basketball history: Diana Taurasi set to break records at 2024 Paris Olympics

Kyle Irving

Oldest players in women's USA Basketball history: Diana Taurasi set to break records at 2024 Paris Olympics image

When USA Basketball announced its women's national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, one name in particular came as no surprise.

Team USA captain Diana Taurasi was one of the 12 women on the roster, as she prepares to build upon her legendary Olympic basketball legacy.

The 42-year-old guard has been a staple member of Team USA since her 2004 Olympic debut in Athens. She has been a part of five of the United States' seven consecutive Olympic gold medals and is looking to add a historic sixth to her trophy case.

Taurasi already holds several United States and Olympic women's basketball records. She is set to make history the second she steps on the court in Paris, and she will try to chase a few more records with her performance at the 2024 Summer Games.

Take a look at where Taurasi ranks among the oldest women's players in USA Basketball history and the Olympic records she holds.

MORE: How Caitlin Clark can still make Team USA Olympics roster

Oldest players in women's USA Basketball history

When Taurasi suits up for Team USA in Paris, she will become the oldest Olympic basketball player ever and the first women's basketball player to compete in six Olympics.

USA Basketball legend Sue Bird set a new record when she represented her country at 41 years old at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Taurasi, who just turned 42, will take that title when she checks into her first game in Paris.

You can find the oldest United States women's basketball players to compete in an Olympic Games below.

RankPlayerAgeOlympic Year
1.Diana Taurasi*422024
2.Sue Bird412021
3.Tamika Catchings372016
T4.Lisa Leslie362008
 Teresa Edwards362000
T6.Sylvia Fowles352021
 Sue Bird352016
T8.Lindsay Whalen342016
 Diana Taurasi342016
 Katie Smith342008
 Yolanda Griffith342004
 Dawn Staley342004

*Taurasi will not own the record until she plays in the 2024 Olympic Games.

MORE: Diana Taurasi speaks on Caitlin Clark's Olympic basketball snub

Diana Taurasi Olympic records

Taurasi already holds a handful of Olympic records — both for the United States and the Games as a whole.

Her five gold medals are tied with Bird and Teresa Edwards for the most in Olympic basketball history, regardless of gender. Taurasi would stand alone in Olympic history if the United States can secure a sixth gold medal in Paris.

She ranks first in women's Olympic basketball history in games played (38) and 3-point field goals (78). She ranks second in points (414) and third in assists (97) in United States Olympic basketball history.

Taurasi trails the great Lisa Leslie (488) by 74 points for the most in United States women's basketball Olympics history. She has a chance to break that record at the 2024 Games if she gets enough playing time.

CategoryStatUSA RankOlympics Rank
Gold Medals5T-1stT-1st
Games Played381st1st
Points4142nd4th
Assists973rdT-4th
3-Pointers781st1st

Team USA women's basketball Olympic roster 2024

Former WNBA MVPs Wilson and Stewart are the headliners for the 2024 USA Olympics roster. Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, and Alyssa Thomas represent the first-time Olympians for the United States.

Take a look at how the rest of the star-studded lineup shakes out.

PlayerPositionWNBA Team
Napheesa CollierFMinnesota Lynx
Kahleah CopperGPhoenix Mercury
Chelsea GrayGLas Vegas Aces
Brittney GrinerCPhoenix Mercury
Sabrina IonescuGNew York Liberty
Jewell LoydGSeattle Storm
Kelsey PlumGLas Vegas Aces
Breanna StewartFNew York Liberty
Diana TaurasiGPhoenix Mercury
Alyssa ThomasFConnecticut Sun
A'ja WilsonFLas Vegas Aces
Jackie YoungGLas Vegas Aces

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.