Diana Taurasi clarified some of her initial comments about Caitlin Clark but refused to back off what she said. In doing so, she also insulted new fans of the WNBA.
The 41-year-old legend called them “soft.”
Diana Taurasi, long considered one of the five best players in women’s basketball history, is a 10-time All-Star, MVP, and three-time WNBA champion. Much like Caitlin Clark two decades later, she was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004.
As the greatest scorer in college basketball history wrapped up her career at Iowa, Taurasi issued a firm message to the newest member of the Indiana Fever and warned Clark that “reality is coming.” Her old comments about wanting to “kill rookies” proved that she was dead serious.
By saying what she said, Taurasi sparked a beef with Clark.
The Phoenix Mercury are already capitalizing on the scuttlebutt by pushing single game tickets for their first game against the Fever in June. They have deemed it as ‘The GOAT vs. The ROOK.’ Clark (not-so) indirectly dissed Taurasi during her appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Whether the two highly-competitive stars want to say it or not, there is already a rivalry between them.
Diana Taurasi stood by her comments about Caitlin Clark!
Taurasi spoke with the media during a preseason availability on Sunday. She reiterated her point while trying to explain that she was/is not taking away from Clark’s talent. In fact, there is an expectation that the former Hawkeyes sharpshooter will eventually get her wits about her.
It’s kind of like when you go from kindergarten to first grade there’s a learning adjustment, when you go from high school to college there’s a learning adjustment. I don’t think I said anything that wasn’t factually correct. Like anything, greatness is going to translate and she’s proven that in every level and I don’t see that being any different in the WNBA.
— Diana Taurasi
That is all fine and well, but it is not what Taurasi said. It is how she said it.
Even her clarification comments had a heavy splash of attitude.
#Mercury Diana Taurasi on Caitlin Clark coming into #wnba pic.twitter.com/Ff4cLurQmL
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) April 28, 2024
Taurasi also took a shot at new fans of the WNBA, which seems rather unnecessary.
The new fans are really sensitive these days and you can’t say anything.
— Diana Taurasi
There is no reason to put down people who have a new-found interest in the league while the league is actively trying to grow. Especially when many of them are going to watch games that they would not have watched before because of Clark and this class of rookies.
Oh well, Taurasi gonna Taurasi.
She has respect for Clark, but the attempt to downplay the beef didn’t help. It’s real…