It’s not every day that you see one basketball player praising another, but that’s exactly what happened after the recent game between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury. Diana Taurasi, the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, had nothing but praise for the young star Caitlin Clark after their first battle on the court.
The game was a close one, with both teams fighting hard for the win. But in the end, it was the Indiana Fever who came out on top, thanks in large part to the impressive performance of Caitlin Clark. The rookie guard put up an impressive 15 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds, showcasing her talent and potential in the league.
Taurasi, 42, explained that it’s evident Clark puts in a ton of work behind the scenes when asked about the 22-year-old’s impact on women’s basketball.
“It’s amazing what Caitlin’s been able to do in her short career so far,” Taurasi, who finished with 19 points, said in a postgame press conference. “It’s been nothing short of remarkable. The one thing that I really love about her, she loves the game. You can tell she’s put the work in.
“Even throughout her short WNBA career, 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.”
Taurasi, a 21-year veteran and three-time WNBA champ, went on to emphasize how impactful Clark has been for the Fever, who improved to 8-12.
“More importantly, she’s done a lot for the Indiana Fever. A team that for the last couple of years is trying to get back to their glory days of Tamika Catchings and putting up banners,” Taurasi said. “So, obviously, what she’s done for the game has been pretty incredible and (having) that momentum coming out of college, eyes on you for four years straight.
“I think what she’s doing for that team right now is pretty impressive. When I think of her, I think of what she’s done for that team.”
Clark and Taurasi were seen sharing a laugh while chatting on the court during the game.
Taurasi’s comments came after the five-time Olympic gold medalist faced pushback when she said that “reality was coming” for Clark — who was still playing for Iowa in the NCAA Tournament in April — when she entered the league.
“Look, SVP, reality is coming,” Taurasi said of Clark and other star rookies in the 2024 draft class during an appearance on “SportsCenter” with Scott Van Pelt on April 6. “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. You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re going to (be playing against) some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.
“Not saying (Clark’s skills) are not gonna translate, because when you’re great at what you do, you’re just gonna get better. But there is gonna be a transition period where you’re gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.”
As fans of the game, it’s exciting to see young talents like Caitlin Clark making a name for themselves in the league, and it’s even more special when that talent is recognized by established stars like Diana Taurasi. The future of the WNBA is bright, and with players like Clark leading the charge, the sky’s the limit.
Flip to the next page to watch Diana Taurasi heap praises on Caitlin Clark…
