Given the opinions of the three-time WNBA champion, Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi’s expected debut matchup with Indiana Fever freshman Caitlin Clark on Sunday is sure to be exciting. Prior to the start of her rookie season in April, Taurasi openly questioned Clark’s potential influence right away. However, after the first-year player’s first few league games, Taurasi softened her criticism somewhat.
And now Taurasi is once again the antagonist.
When asked about playing Clark for the first time, Taurasi replied to reporters earlier this week, “Yeah, it’ll be fun,” before hurriedly answering the next query.
Before Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Taurasi described the Fever as a “super-talented” team and shared more insight into Clark and Indiana than she has previously, all without mentioning the rookie.
“India is undoubtedly another really skilled young team that will compete well here. Being young has its advantages since you don’t have any life experience. You can enter these buildings with abandon and play with abandon,” Taurasi remarked.
Similar to Taurasi’s comments earlier in the season, fellow Mercury star Brittney Griner predicted that Clark’s ability to score will decline to a new level. Griner is a nine-time all-star and a previous No. 1 overall choice in the WNBA Draft, just like Taurasi and Clark.
“Coming from college to the pros is different,” Griner remarked prior to Clark’s debut in the regular season. “I dropped a little bit in my numbers after being the top dog. You will be facing adult women. They provide for their family in this way. This goes beyond a simple passion for the [game]. They make their living from this. I needed to strengthen and tighten my grip a bit more. She will experience some growing pains, but she will be fine.
This is Clark’s first opportunity to refute Taurasi’s earlier remarks that questioned her skills.
“Reality is approaching,” Taurasi said to ESPN during Iowa’s previous season’s march to the Final Four. “You may appear superhuman competing against 18-year-olds, but you’ll be facing mature players who have been in the NBA for a considerable amount of time. As a beginner, there will be a transitional time during which you must extend yourself some grace.”
Clark seemed unfazed by Taurasi’s opening remarks.
After making her debut, Clark remarked, “You can’t take a second off when you’re on the court with this much talent.” “They’re going to beat you on a screen if you even give them a moment to relax. Regardless of the task at hand, they will defeat you. The biggest thing, in my opinion, is that you can never truly unwind in this league. Thus, I believe that you have to get used to playing hard every single second.”