Presented by Prime Video Sports and Skydance Sports and directed by Katie Bender Wynn, Taurasi pays homage to one of the greatest figures in women’s basketball, Diana Taurasi. Highlighted by three NCAA Championships at the University of Connecticut, three Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) titles with the Phoenix Mercury, six Olympic gold medals, and six Euroleague crowns, Taurasi established a standard that may never be equaled. Setting an expectation for excellence, her Jordan-esque dominance made her a figurehead in the sport and represents a period of greatness that may never be seen again.
With first-person commentary from former UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, parents Liliana and Mario, her sister Jessika, UConn and WNBA legend Sue Bird, sports journalist Kate Fagan, and many others, the series reveals the humor, vulnerability, and grit that make up the superstar. What’s more, details behind the Caitlin Clark fiasco, the benching at the Paris Olympics, and an erroneous drug test.
Broken down into three episodes: “A Star in Storrs”, “Rolling in Rubles”, and “League of Her Own”, the series shows audiences who Diana Taurasi really is on her terms. The NCAA, WNBA, and Olympic champion had no shortage of stories to share. Some were inspiring, while others served as valuable lessons. From her humble beginnings in California to her dominance in Storrs, Connecticut, Taurasi takes us on a wild ride from childhood to the present.
As is life, there are ups and downs, but being in the public eye invites a specific kind of scrutiny. Her fierce tenacity and love of the game were often perceived as bad for the league. She peaked during a time of heavy criticism for the W as the league’s player profile and image were shifting in a different direction than before. One thing is for sure: she’s never going to change. She entered the league fiery, and that’s exactly how she left.
In a move that almost felt like a changing of the guard, Taurasi retired the same year that Iowa star Caitlin Clark was drafted. The hype and obsession behind Clark teeters on the verge of ridiculous. On one end, the legion of fans she has accrued means she has influence. We saw this after she commented to the media about the Fever’s flight schedule (a topic players have complained about for years), and the WNBA responded by providing charter flights for the team, eventually extending to the rest of the league. That’s about as quickly as the hate train approached Taurasi after the 20-year veteran responded to a simple question: “What awaits her when she comes to the league? Reality.” Emphasizing the vast difference between playing against teenagers and grown women was a simple and accurate comparison, meaning that the degree of difficulty would be far greater than before. That didn’t sit well with her fans or the media talking heads who obsess over her. The same went for DT joining the Olympic squad when the media and Clark’s legion of followers complained she was taking a spot that “should’ve been” hers. Anyone who follows the “W” knows that Taurasi has balled out her entire career, and the media circus has been unnecessary from the beginning.
The docuseries covers everything from her start in Chino, her short stint in Argentina, and the events that landed her in the land of champions, Storrs, Connecticut, home of the UConn Huskies. One of the more interesting parts of her story came in the second episode, “Rolling in Rubles”, detailing her time in Moscow. Along with commentary from Sue Bird, the two piece together a storyline that involves championship basketball, a celebrity lifestyle, and a team owner who made their lives better. Shabtai Kalmanovich was the former owner and general manager of Spartak Moscow when both Bird and Taurasi were playing there. Unlike the WNBA, “Shab” could pay them millions. The two spoke highly of Shabtai and all he did for women’s basketball in Russia and beyond. His kindness towards his players and generosity were well-known and admired by foreign players, which is why sharing his story brought anguish. On November 2, 2009, Shabtai was assassinated while sitting in his car in Moscow, Russia. Without his massive injection of funds, the team came up short on salary payments. When this happened, the team followed Diana’s lead when she chose to finish the season for free, in honor of their fallen friend.
Taurasi retired as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points. Her six gold medals make her the most decorated basketball player (men’s or women’s) in the history of the Olympics. She played her entire 20-year career in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury. In Europe, she played for Dynamo Moscow, Spartak Moscow, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and UMMC Ekaterinburg. Her list of accolades seems endless: 11-time WNBA All-Star, Five-time WNBA Scoring Champion, Seven-time Russian National League Champion, Four-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, Three-time WNBA Champion, and two-time WNBA Finals MVP are part of an extensive list of acknowledgements and awards earned.
Taurasi gets a 9 out of 10. If anyone was deserving of a documentary fresh into their retirement, it’s DT. Her influence on women’s basketball, both collegiate and professional, is undeniable. I only wish there were more to watch. Diana’s accounts are captivating, and I’m sure WNBA fans would appreciate anything she’s willing to share.
Taurasi is now available on Prime Video.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Prime
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Unrated
Runtime: Three Episodes | 45 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: August 7, 2025