Okay folks you know Whoopi Goldberg right? Legendary actress comedian host of The View – basically a total icon. Well even icons have those moments where things just don't go quite as planned. And on a recent episode of The View Whoopi had one of those wonderfully human oh-no-she-didn't moments and it was all thanks to WNBA star Diana Taurasi .
"Whippy" Goldberg? Diana Taurasi Turns Tables on Whoopi After Name Gaffe
Here's the deal Whoopi was trying to introduce Diana Taurasi a basketball superstar who just announced her retirement. But when it came time to say Diana's last name Whoopi totally tripped up. Instead of "Taurasi" she pronounced it "Tour-ree-see" which rhymes with "greasy." Oops! You could see Whoopi realize instantly she messed up. Her co-hosts Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin jumped in to gently correct her which just made Whoopi jokingly throw her hands up and say "Why don’t you do it!".
Sara Haines being a good sport then actually did the introduction getting Diana's name right. But the fun wasn't over yet. When Diana Taurasi came out on stage she greeted all the hosts including Whoopi. And then with perfect comedic timing Diana got her playful revenge. As Whoopi said "Good to see you" Diana replied "Good to see you Whippy — I mean Whoopi!". The whole table burst out laughing and Whoopi just had to laugh along too.
All in Good Fun: Whoopi and Diana Handle the Mix-Up Like Pros
It was all clearly in good fun. Whoopi immediately laughed it off saying "That’s all right!" and Diana shook her head smiling and adding "It’s all good." No drama no shade just two pros having a funny moment on live TV . It just shows that even on a live show with millions watching everyone is human and little slip-ups happen. The best part is how both Whoopi and Diana handled it with humor and grace.
This whole thing actually highlights Diana Taurasi's personality too. She is known for being a bit of a legend and not being afraid to have some fun or even be a little "petty" as some put it. One article even joked she was positioning herself to be like a "Charles Barkley-like figure in sports media" someone who is not afraid to speak her mind and have a laugh.
Diana Taurasi: WNBA Legend Deserving of Proper Name Annunciation (But a Good Sport About It!)
You know you are a big deal when even name mispronunciations become funny news. And Diana Taurasi is definitely a HUGE deal in the world of women's basketball. For anyone not totally familiar Diana just announced her retirement after an amazing 20-year career in the WNBA all with the Phoenix Mercury. She is considered one of the greatest and most influential players ever.
Here are just a few of her achievements that prove her legendary status:
- WNBA Leading Scorer: She is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history with over 10,000 regular season points. That is almost 3000 more than the second-highest scorer!
- 14-Time All-WNBA Selection: That's a whole lot of All-Star level seasons.
- 11-Time WNBA All-Star: Fans clearly love to watch her play.
- 3-Time WNBA Champion: Winning championships is what it is all about and she has three of them.
- WNBA MVP Award: Officially recognized as the league's Most Valuable Player.
- 6 Olympic Gold Medals: She is the first basketball player EVER male or female to win six Olympic gold medals. That is an insane achievement!
- College Star at UConn: Before the WNBA she was a two-time national player of the year at UConn leading them to three national championships.
With a resume like that yeah Diana Taurasi deserves to have her name pronounced correctly. But she also showed she has a great sense of humor and could take Whoopi's flub in stride turning it into a memorable and funny TV moment. It's all part of the charm of live television and the personalities that make shows like The View so watchable.