Diana Taurasi’s Journey Highlighted in Upcoming Documentary
Diana Taurasi, widely regarded as the greatest leader in WNBA history, is set to have her remarkable basketball journey chronicled in a three-part documentary series titled “Taurasi.” The teaser for the series has already gained significant attention online.
Openly expressive on and off the court, Taurasi reflects on the necessity of playing overseas during the WNBA offseason to boost her earnings. In one segment from the series, she voiced her regrets about needing to do so. “I’m the best player in the world and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist,” she noted, referring to her time in Russia.
She also expressed frustration with the conditions surrounding her career, highlighting the disparity in treatment and compensation. Back in 2019, she shared similar sentiments on a podcast, joking about an incident where “the spy who signed me” became a topic of discussion.
Recently, Sophie Cunningham urged reporters to convey to WNBA Commissioners the need for better pay as discussions about union contracts continue. Reflecting on the wages in the league, she remarked, “45,000? Is that what I’m making after four years at the most prestigious basketball college?” This salary discussion is particularly poignant as Taurasi herself started with a $42,000 salary with the Phoenix Mercury in 2004. Over the years, her earnings increased, culminating in a two-year deal worth $469,872 signed in February 2023.
Throughout her 20 years in the WNBA, she has reportedly earned around $1.38 million. Additionally, during the 2015 season, she opted to play for the Russian Premier League team UMMC Ekaterinburg instead of participating in the WNBA.
Taurasi elaborated on the sacrifices that come with playing abroad, explaining how the need for additional income affected her personal life. “We came back at once, and it was like, ‘Man, my parents were just getting old and I missed most of them.’ Generational wealth, for us, came from going to Russia every year,” she lamented.
Despite the growing opportunities in the WNBA, many players still take on international roles during the offseason. Initiatives like the new 3×3 league launched by stars like Breanna Stewart and Nafisa Collier aim to provide further avenues for women to compete.
With the WNBA’s 2020 collective bargaining agreement, minimum salaries are set to rise from $57,000 in 2025 to $66,079, and then gradually increasing each year until 2027. However, as the current agreement expires on October 31, 2025, the league is left in a precarious position.
In recent actions highlighting their situation, WNBA players wore “Pay Us” t-shirts before the 2025 All-Star Game. Without a new contract by the beginning of the 2026 season, the WNBA could face a lockout.
Diana Taurasi goes viral for comments on pay differences between Russia and the WNBA
Diana Taurasi’s Journey Highlighted in Upcoming Documentary
Diana Taurasi, widely regarded as the greatest leader in WNBA history, is set to have her remarkable basketball journey chronicled in a three-part documentary series titled “Taurasi.” The teaser for the series has already gained significant attention online.
Openly expressive on and off the court, Taurasi reflects on the necessity of playing overseas during the WNBA offseason to boost her earnings. In one segment from the series, she voiced her regrets about needing to do so. “I’m the best player in the world and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist,” she noted, referring to her time in Russia.
She also expressed frustration with the conditions surrounding her career, highlighting the disparity in treatment and compensation. Back in 2019, she shared similar sentiments on a podcast, joking about an incident where “the spy who signed me” became a topic of discussion.
Recently, Sophie Cunningham urged reporters to convey to WNBA Commissioners the need for better pay as discussions about union contracts continue. Reflecting on the wages in the league, she remarked, “45,000? Is that what I’m making after four years at the most prestigious basketball college?” This salary discussion is particularly poignant as Taurasi herself started with a $42,000 salary with the Phoenix Mercury in 2004. Over the years, her earnings increased, culminating in a two-year deal worth $469,872 signed in February 2023.
Throughout her 20 years in the WNBA, she has reportedly earned around $1.38 million. Additionally, during the 2015 season, she opted to play for the Russian Premier League team UMMC Ekaterinburg instead of participating in the WNBA.
Taurasi elaborated on the sacrifices that come with playing abroad, explaining how the need for additional income affected her personal life. “We came back at once, and it was like, ‘Man, my parents were just getting old and I missed most of them.’ Generational wealth, for us, came from going to Russia every year,” she lamented.
Despite the growing opportunities in the WNBA, many players still take on international roles during the offseason. Initiatives like the new 3×3 league launched by stars like Breanna Stewart and Nafisa Collier aim to provide further avenues for women to compete.
With the WNBA’s 2020 collective bargaining agreement, minimum salaries are set to rise from $57,000 in 2025 to $66,079, and then gradually increasing each year until 2027. However, as the current agreement expires on October 31, 2025, the league is left in a precarious position.
In recent actions highlighting their situation, WNBA players wore “Pay Us” t-shirts before the 2025 All-Star Game. Without a new contract by the beginning of the 2026 season, the WNBA could face a lockout.
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