Diana Taurasi wrote herself into history after earning her sixth Olympic gold medal in the U.S. women’s basketball team’s 67-66 win over France on Sunday, but she didn’t exactly play herself into it.
Taurasi, who surpassed former American teammate Sue Bird for most gold medals in Olympic basketball history, was benched for the entirety of the title match. The 42-year-old sat and watched her teammates help clinch the program’s historic eighth consecutive Olympic gold at the Paris Games, with A’ja Wilson and Kahleah Copper putting together efficient performances against a pesky French side.
