Diana Taurasi found herself in an awkward position after the Phoenix Mercury suffered a season sweep at the hands of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever—just months after the veteran guard issued a stern warning to the rookie star about the challenges of the WNBA.
On Friday, Clark returned from the Olympic break with a vengeance, having been left off the Team USA roster, and led the Fever to a commanding 98-89 victory over the Mercury. This marked Indiana’s third win over Phoenix this season. Clark was unstoppable, finishing with 29 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, while shooting an efficient 8-of-16 from the field.
Taurasi, on the other hand, seemed to be feeling the effects of her recent gold medal win at the Paris Games, with little time to recover before rejoining the Mercury. She managed 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers, along with a technical foul in the first quarter after a heated exchange with referees following a call on Brittney Griner.
The victory was particularly sweet for Clark, especially after the Mercury’s social media team took a jab at her before Friday’s game. Just two days prior, Phoenix posted a video featuring a young fan holding a sign that read, “Who is Caitlin? I’m here for Taurasi,” accompanied by a montage of Taurasi sinking deep three-pointers.
Clark’s rapid rise in the WNBA has been remarkable, especially in light of Taurasi’s earlier comments about the steep learning curve awaiting rookies like Clark. Back in March, while speaking with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt after Iowa advanced to their second consecutive NCAA women’s basketball title game, Taurasi suggested that incoming rookies would face a harsh reality in the pros.
“When the college guys come out, they’re waiting for them,” Van Pelt remarked, referencing the incoming class of rookies, including Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink.
“Look, SVP, reality is coming. You know, there are levels to this thing, and that’s just life. We all went through it,” Taurasi responded. “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 then you come up against grown women who have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”
Clark’s performance on Friday not only silenced her critics but also underscored her ability to excel at the highest level, proving that she belongs among the WNBA’s elite.
