Diana Taurasi

“The best players in the world are men, so why wouldn't you want to play like them?”

“Why shouldn't I try to make the most money I can?”

“I now know I can live without basketball.”

“Thankfully, there was not a lot of social media around when I was growing up.”

“You tell me I play like a man, and I'll tell you, 'Hey, thanks.'”

“I always say there's a couple things that I look at when I'm playing basketball. Do I enjoy going to the gym? Do I enjoy being in the locker room? When I get on the court do I still have that competitive fire to hate the person I'm playing against?”

“It's one thing to have a lot of talent together. It's another to have everyone play at their highest level.”

“Tomorrow's not promised so you've really got to take advantage of what you have in the present.”

“The way I was playing year-round was breaking me down physically and mentally.”

“I never complain when I foul, ever.”

“Personal relationships become really hard when you're away from home and long-distance.”

“The one thing I've learned from other great players is that you are what you do every single day.”

“On the nights the Lakers played, I wouldn't miss a second of the game. Every timeout, every commercial, I'd run to the front yard to imitate my favorite Laker, Kobe.”

“I just knew I wanted to play basketball for as long as I could.”

“We got to see the world, we're put on some of the best teams in Europe, we made a lot of money, and then the flip side is it was 12 years of our parents getting older.”

“I like the Ronaldo Flyknits even though I'm a Messi fan.”

“I never need to be motivated to be on the court. That's the one thing that comes very naturally to me.”

“I have been really lucky to learn and play with the best in the game. It makes one go to a different level.”

“I can only speak from experience, but as a little kid I remember Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley and Cynthia Cooper. I remember the mainstream media being involved and how much exposure they received.”

“I try to envision what life is after basketball, but I just see myself working out and just being a basketball player still.”