Lauren Jackson and Diana Taurasi bring experience to their Olympic women’s basketball teams

PARIS (AP) — Diana Taurasi wishes people would stop talking about her age. Lauren Jackson just admits it — she’s old.

The two 40-plus WNBA greats are in the quarterfinals of the Olympics and have a potential matchup in the offing Friday if they can help their countries advance Wednesday.

While the 42-year-old Taurasi is playing in her sixth straight Olympics, Jackson is back after a 12-year gap from her last one.

“It’s crazy. You know, I never, ever anticipated that I’d be back here again,” the 43-year-old Aussie said. “I couldn’t have imagined it, three years ago. Two years ago, a year ago. Six months ago. Like, I just wasn’t going to be doing it. So to be here, it’s like it really does feel so different to what it used to feel like.”

Jackson retired in 2016 after knee injuries derailed her career. She had hoped to compete in the Olympics that year, but an ACL injury ended that dream. She made a return playing domestically in Australia and then helped the Opals to a magical run to a bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup, which the country hosted.

She scored 30 points in that bronze medal game. The Australians would love to see another game like that when they play Serbia in the Olympic quarterfinals Wednesday.

Australia and the U.S. didn’t meet two years ago in the Worlds, but they could play Friday. That would be the latest contest between Jackson and Taurasi. The two friends have squared off many times over the years in the Olympics, WNBA and other international contests.

“It’s a bit of a time warp. You know, I think being in this environment again, it is crazy. And like I said, I’ve just taken every day as it comes and it’s got me back here,” Jackson said. “So long as I’m able to contribute, play defense, get some rebounds, you know, not let my team down in those minutes. I’m happy ... and I feel like I’m doing my job.”

Unlike Jackson, Taurasi has been a bit annoyed with the narrative that she’s old for an Olympic basketball player. There were people outside USA Basketball that said she should have been passed over for a younger player, like WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark.

“If there’s one thing you can’t escape in this country, it is ageism. I’ve gone back and forth with this answer. When you dedicate your whole life, your whole career to something, and you get the question of, ‘Why don’t you just retire?’” Taurasi said before the Olympics began.

“It’s something I’ve been doing since I was 5. It’s something I’ve dedicated my whole life to. And it’s just so easy ... for a question to be brought up in a manner where it’s not meant to be disrespectful. But if you’re the person being asked, it is a bit disrespectful.”

No women’s basketball player has ever played in six Olympics and none have been as successful as Taurasi. She feels that there’s a gender bias with age more commonly brought up against women.

“I tell people that all the time, especially in women’s sports, in women’s professions. Only a woman would have 20 years of experience and it’d be an Achilles’ heel, instead of something that is treasured and used as a way forward, for sport and for women.”

While both Jackson and Taurasi haven’t put up huge numbers on the court yet during the Paris Games, their experience has been invaluable to their teammates.

“She’s like another coach. She’s had so many years of experience and the way she sees the game is really special,” U.S. forward Napheesa Collier said. “She’s really smart in the way that she can break things down and sees what’s open and how to dissect the game. It’s really, really such an honor to be able to play with her.”

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games