Dianna Taurasi & Her Plant-Based Vegan Journey
Dianna is at it again this season, averaging a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game along with 20.5 points per game. She's the Mercury's defensive anchor, with a 7-foot-3.5 inch wingspan, a height, and athleticism that make her nearly impossible to shoot over.
Why Dianna Taurasi Went Vegan
Taurasi went vegan around 2015, according to a 2018 interview with Women Fitness. “I think it is something I have benefited from,” the basketball pro said. Taurasi's plant-based diet appears to be working so far.
"Just staying away from foods that cause a lot of inflammation, fats, and sugars that everyone knows are a little counterproductive if you eat large amounts of them.”
Not only has Taurasi scored more points than any player in WNBA history, but the margin between Taurasi and the field is also staggering. She has scored 1,686 more points than any other player in league history Tina Thompson, 7,488 and 2,279 more than any other active player.
Taurasi leads all players in 20-point games, with a commanding lead over second-ranked Tina Charles with 157 such games. Taurasi has played 472 career regular-season games (which ranks 8th all-time) and has scored at least 20 points in 48.9% of those games. Over her 17-year career with the Mercury, Taurasi has won three WNBA championships, two WNBA Finals MVPs, and one regular-season WNBA MVP. ... 1 overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft, Taurasi has averaged 19.4 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game over her illustrious career.
Diana Taurasi, a vegan pro basketball player from the United States, has been crowned the greatest player in the history of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Taurasi, a guard for the Phoenix Mercury, was recently in the WNBA Finals for the fourth time. The WNBA held a ‘Vote for the GOAT’ campaign to commemorate its 25th season. From September 5 to September 19, fans had the opportunity to vote.
Before the game, the 39-year-old athlete, who has been on the court for 17 years, was presented with the honor.
So far, Taurasi’s plant-based diet seems to be working. The famous athlete has won two more Olympic gold medals after going vegan, bringing her total to a record-breaking five.
What separates Taurasi from this elite group of scorers is her longevity. We’ll have to wait and see if EDD, Stewie, and Arike can maintain this scoring pace for another 200+ games as Taurasi has. Of the 86 players that have played at least 300 career games, Taurasi’s 19.4 leads the way.
Among players that have played at least 80 career games, Taurasi ranks fifth in career scoring average at 19.4 points throughout 472 games. She trails Cynthia Cooper (21.0 PPG in 124 games), Elena Delle Donne (20.2 in 193 games), Breanna Stewart (20.0 in 149 games), and Arike Ogunbowale (19.9 PPG in 87 career games).