Iowa Hawkeyes superstar Caitlin Clark has established herself as arguably the biggest superstar in the history of women’s college basketball and is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft. But WNBA legend Diana Taurasi doesn’t seem to think the transition to the WNBA is necessarily going to be easy for Clark.
During a recent interview with Scott Van Pelt, Diana Taurasi sent a pretty clear warning to Caitlin Clark about just how much more difficult the WNBA game is compared to the college game.
“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, you look superhuman playing against 18 years olds but you’re going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”
Diana Taurasi on Caitlin Clark coming to WNBA "Reality is coming….you look superhuman playing against some 18 years olds but you're going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time" pic.twitter.com/fxBxGoRZCS
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 6, 2024
Taurasi went on to make it clear that this doesn’t mean Clark won’t be successful, but just that the transition might be harder than she expects.
“Not saying it’s not going to translate cause when you’re great at what you do you’re just going to get better. But there is going to be a transition period where you’re just going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie. And it might take a little bit longer for some people,” Taurasi said.
Obviously, these comments led to a lot of reactions on social media.
She sound like that 03 Cavs team when they knew LeBron was coming https://t.co/GDmOAS3Age
— kingtisemedia (@kingtisemedia) April 7, 2024
Here is the thing….we all know her game will look different in the WNBA…she won’t have to score 30 points a game…she is elevating the game with no other All-Americans…the disrespect from the greats is really sad and disappointing… https://t.co/a5qN5pGm5T
— 𝓒𝓙 𝓐𝓵𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓭 (@HawksBestie) April 7, 2024
Let me preface this by saying she’s not wrong. She’s actually 100% right. But Here is much better way to answer that question. To get more people hyped for your product.
“Caitlin Clark is a generational talent and I can’t wait for her test her skills against the best women… https://t.co/jXfqVP0K5m
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) April 7, 2024
In other words I can’t generate no where near the hype she can and she bout to sellout areas and I couldn’t that’s all I hear https://t.co/oo28cIZzOR
— DEPRESSED COLTS FAN (@THENINEGOD) April 7, 2024
Just curious, do people wanna “grow women’s athletics” or do they only wanna see it grow when it involves themselves? The fake hate and jealousy is so odd these past few weeks 💀 https://t.co/e3aM5FLFzm
— TK 🦁 (@PSU_TK) April 7, 2024
Caitlin Clark elevates the game.
Diana Taurasi is doing the opposite here.
— Ben Cary (@Ben_Cary_) April 6, 2024
Taurasi was a No. 1 overall pick herself back in 2004, but she found success immediately, earning a spot on the WNBA All-Star team during her first year.
We’ll have to see if Clark follows that path.
