Taru Tuukkanen is a Finnish international post player with both american experience (she was selected in the 57th pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft after averaging 19,1 points and 8,4 rebounds in her senior year at Xavier) and european experience, where apart from Finland she has played in the Italian, French and Spanish League, country in which she has played for seven seasons.

Taru started playing basketball in Finland, from where she moved to Xavier where she was the top scorer and best rebounder in her freshman, junior and senior year.  Specially in her senior season, Taru broke Xavier´s record in scoring and rebounding after averaging 19,1 points (60% from the field) and 8,4 rebounds per game.

She was also named in the Atlatic 10 Conference First Team both in the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons.

Once her college career was over, Taru Tuukkanen was selected in the 57th pick of the 2001 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.

Taru had her first european experience in the 2001-02 season, playing for Calais in French 1st division. 

In the 2002-03 season, Taru played in Symel Tenerife, averaging 16,2 points 8,5 rebounds and 17,8 in efficiency per game in the Spanish 1st division.

After her good year, Taru signed with Perfumerias Avenida Salamanca in the 2003-04 season, averaging 11,8 points 5,8 rebounds and 13 in efficiency in League and 14,3 points and 5,7 rebounds in playoffs.

Taru Tuukkanen signed with Mann Filter Zaragoza in the 2004-05 season and averaged 15,9 points 6,2 rebounds and 13,5 in efficiency in League and 17 points and 5,7 rebounds in the playoffs.

Taru began the 2005-06 season in Leon, averaging 8,5 points and 5,2 rebounds  per  game  inLeague and 8,6 points and 3,4 rebounds in FIBA Cup. Later she moved to Extrugasa, averaging 17,2 points 7,3 rebounds and 20,2 in efficiency in League and moving Extrugasa to 1st division with 19,3 points 8 rebounds and 29 in efficiency in the Playoffs.

Taru stayed in Extrugasa in 2006-07, averaging 15,5 points 8,9 rebounds and 16,2 in efficiency in League and 17 points and 10 rebounds in Queen´s Cup and 16 points 8 rebounds and 15,5 in efficiency in the Playoffs.

In the 2007-08 season,  Taru Tuukkanen signs with Gran Canaria, averaging 15,7 points 7,4 rebounds and 15 in efficiency in League and 14,3 points and 8,9 rebounds in FIBA Cup.

After starting the 2008-09 season in Napoli, where she averaged 9,8 points and 4,5 rebounds per game, Taru returned to Extrugasa to finish the season and averaged 11,8 points and 5,6 rebounds in League and 15 points and 4 rebounds in FIBA Cup.

Taru had her first daughter at the end of 2009 and few time later she returned to play in Finland, averaging 15,8 points and 9,4 rebounds per game in PeKa.

Taru stayed in Finland in the 2010-11 season and playing for ToPo she averaged 18,9 points and 9,5 rebounds per game.

Taru is and has been one of the most important player in the history of Finnish Basketball.

With the senior national team, Taru averaged 11 points and 7,4 rebounds per game in the Qualifying for the European Champinship in 2001,  11 points and 5,5 rebounds in 2003, 15,7 points and 7,2 rebounds in 2005, 15,1 points and 8,6 rebounds in 2007, 14,3 points and 9 rebounds in 2009 and 14,8 points and 8,8 rebounds in 2011.

Taru Tuukkanen signed with Zamora in the 2011-12, returning to Spanish 1st division and averaging 10,2 points and 6 rebounds in 26 minutes per game, shining against Sóller with 23 points and 8 rebounds.