WNBA legend Diana Taurasi is not surprisingly under scrutiny after recent comments regarding the 2024 rookie class, notably (you guessed it) Caitlin Clark.
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Taurasi, a stalwart of the Phoenix Mercury, remains steadfast in her assessment that Clark, the top pick for the Indiana Fever, faces a steep learning curve in transitioning to the professional arena. Despite facing backlash for her remarks, Taurasi reiterated her stance during discussions at training camp. She suggested that, hey, fans just need to grow up. (Where have we heard that before? Answer, about a billion places.)
"The new fans are really sensitive these days, you can't say anything," Taurasi told veteran Arizona sportswriter Jeff Metcalfe. "It's kind of like when you go from to kindergarten to first grade, there's a learning adjustment — and then when you go from high school to college, there's a learning adjustment.
"It always feels good when there's a Husky in the building."
Clark, renowned for her collegiate achievements at Iowa, has left an indelible imprint on the basketball landscape, driving record attendance and television ratings. However, her anticipated leap to the WNBA raises questions about her ability to replicate her success at the professional level.
Taurasi, 41, was referring to comments she made to Scott Van Pelt during an appearance on SportsCenter.
"Look SVP, reality is coming," Taurasi said. "There's levels to this thing. And that's just life. We all went through it. You see it on the NBA side and you're going to see it on this side where you look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you're going to come with some grown women who've been playing professional basketball for a long time."
The anticipation surrounding Clark extends beyond her athletic prowess, as her celebrity status contributes to an uptick in ticket sales for WNBA matchups featuring the Fever. Some teams have even adjusted ticket prices and relocated games to accommodate the heightened interest generated by Clark's presence.
Meanwhile, as Taurasi, a venerable figure with a decorated career spanning two decades, prepares for her milestone 20th season, social media buzzes with speculation about the perceived rivalry between Taurasi and Clark, underscoring the intense discourse surrounding the WNBA's emerging stars.
