‘You Can Tell She’s an Athlete’

The basketball star shares son Leo Michael and daughter Isla with wife and teammate Penny Taylor

Diana Taurasi is opening up about what it’s like raising two kids with her wife and former teammate Penny Taylor.

The WNBA stars tied the knot in May 2017 after meeting as teammates on their first day with the Mercury in 2004. They then welcomed their son Leo Michael in March 2018 and daughter Isla in October 2021.

In a new interview with Familia by Parents, Taurasi revealed that she can already tell which child is following in their moms’ athletic footsteps.

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Related: WNBA’s Diana Taurasi and Wife Penny Taylor Welcome Baby Girl Hours After Semifinal Win

When it comes to raising little athletes, “Leo complains,” she explained. “He can tell we want him to play so we’ve done a 180 and don’t talk about it. And he’ll ask, ‘When’s basketball practice?’ And we’ll say, ‘We’ll go if you want.'”

However, with Isla, ‘You can tell she’s an athlete. She has a way about her,” Taurasi said of the 2-year-old. “She’s very physical and loves to climb.”

She added that she won’t push either kid to pursue a particular path. “At the end of the day, they’ll pick their path of what they love to do. And if it’s basketball, I would obviously enjoy that.”

Taurasi also shared the lessons she’s passing down to her little ones, saying, “I want to make sure that Leo and Isla know that it’s not always going to be easy. You don’t get your way all the time. And when you don’t, you have to find a way to work harder and get there for yourself.”

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She told Familia by Parents that she wants her kids to know that facing challenges only makes them stronger and work harder.

“There’s nothing like going through something yourself. Whether you’re a rookie or at a new life stage, that’s when you have to put your head down and work harder. We’re in a day and age when we shy away from the hard things. And I want to lean into the hard things,” she said.

“That’s what gives you the confidence to be a better person, parent, teammate, professional, colleague. It’s knowing how to navigate those moments and keeping your work ethic and principles intact.”

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