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Caitlin Clark’s Haters Take Major Loss After WNBA Legend Gives Rookie Huge Props

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5 months ago

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WNBA icon Diana Taurasi, once dismissive of rising star Caitlin Clark, appears to have changed her tune. Taurasi had previously downplayed Clark’s abilities in the lead-up to the 2024 WNBA Draft in April, suggesting that Clark was merely a big fish in the small pond of college basketball. She hinted that the young talent might find the transition to the professional ranks more challenging, indicating that succeeding at the college level was one thing but thriving in the WNBA was another beast entirely.

However, following their on-court encounter this Sunday, Taurasi’s tone shifted significantly. The seasoned veteran moved from skepticism to commendation, signaling a newfound respect for Clark’s skills and potential in the WNBA. Taurasi, celebrated for her storied career at UConn and with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, issued a caution to Clark as she prepared to enter the WNBA.

Speaking on ESPN following the Iowa Hawkeyes’ victory over the Huskies in March, Taurasi delivered the message: “Reality is coming.”

“You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds but you’re going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time. There is gonna be a transition period where you’re going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie,” she added.

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However, despite battling a migraine and intense pressure on Sunday, Clark was a star. The matchup pitted Taurasi against the 22-year-old newcomer. The Indiana Fever phenom was just one rebound shy of achieving the first triple-double by a WNBA rookie, leading her team to an 88-82 victory over Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury.

Despite this being Clark’s debut in Phoenix, the game saw a significant turnout from Fever fans, who constituted a notable part of the sellout crowd of 17,071. The game started off rocky for the Fever, who quickly fell behind 17-4. They trailed by 11 points at halftime and were down by as much as 15 in the second half. However, they rallied to secure a win that delighted the visiting supporters.

“I’m just happy we won,” Clark said to ESPN after finishing with an impressive stat line of 15 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds. “It was cool to play against [Taurasi], and obviously a really great game. This crowd was absolutely incredible.”

After their on-court meeting, Diana Taurasi had high praise for Caitlin Clark’s performance and potential. “It’s amazing what Caitlin’s been able to do in her short career so far,” Taurasi said. “The one thing that I really love about her, she loves the game. You can tell she’s put the work in.”

Taurasi also acknowledged the numerous challenges Clark has faced, including the intense pressure of professional sports. “It’s been a lot of pressure, a lot of things thrown at her, and she keeps showing up and keeps getting better every single game. So her future is super bright, and being a veteran and being in this league for a long, long time, it is pretty cool to see that and go into the future.”

The Indiana Fever celebrated their over the Phoenix Mercury with a nod to Taurasi’s earlier remarks about Clark. On their X account, the Fever shared a post titled “reality check” following their win on Sunday.

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