Diana Taurasi was more than GOAT; she was the GLOAT
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- February 26, 2025
Diana Taurasi retires as Greatest Latina of All Time
By all accounts, Diana Taurasi is the GOAT in women’s basketball. Her resume is so impressive, it’s ridiculous. But the Argentinian American was so brilliant, it seems myopic to see her only in the context of basketball, men’s or women’s.
She is one of the greatest women’s athletes in United States history. Moreover, an argument can be made that Diana Taurasi is the GLOAT, the Greatest Latina of All Time in sports.
After she announced her retirement in an exclusive interview with Time on Tuesday, tributes came her way from all over the sports world. The WNBA, Phoenix Mercury and her alma mater UConn weren’t the only groups praising Taurasi.
“Mentally and physically, I’m just full,” Taurasi told Time. “That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”
Last summer Taurasi, 42, became the first and only basketball player – men or women – to win a sixth Olympic gold medal. The WNBA’s all-time leading scorer won three WNBA titles and three NCAA women’s basketball titles. Taurasi was a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year.
She led UConn to four Women’s Basketball Final Fours, earning Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four twice. As we celebrate Taurasi’s greatness, it’s a good time to see which Latinas would compete with her for the GLOAT in sports title.
Lisa Fernandez dominated softball world
Lisa Fernandez, who celebrated her 54th birthday on Sunday, is one of the greatest softball players ever. The legendary pitcher was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Fernandez is also a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Famer. She won three Olympic gold medals and two NCAA national titles at UCLA.
The four-time All-American was named the Pac-12 Softball Player of the Century and Pitcher of the Century in 2016. She was also a three-time Pac-10 Player of the Year. Fernandez has also helped UCLA win five national titles as an assistant coach.
Dara Torres, 57, is a legendary swimmer. She won 12 Olympic medals, competing in five Olympiads from 1984 to 2008. She won four gold medals, four silver medals and four bronze. Torres won nine SEC individual titles during his time at the University of Florida. Torres also won six relay national titles with the Gators.
She was the 1988 SEC Athlete of the Year and the 1987 and 1989 SEC Female Swimmer of the Year. Torres earned 28 All-American honors at Florida.
Lorena Ochoa did much in brief period
Lorena Ochoa was born in Guadalajara, but she attended the University of Arizona before dominating the LPGA.
Ochoa, 43, is an LPGA Hall of Famer even though she retired after only eight years on the tour. She was also enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The four-time LPGA Player of the Year won two major tournaments among her 27 LPGA tour victories.
She inspired many young Latinas to play golf. Even Taurasi didn’t win an MVP or Player of the Year Award in half of her seasons. Brazil soccer sensation Marta and Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo also deserve consideration in any discussion about the greatest Latina athletes.
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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