Diana Taurasi is officially flipping the script. The WNBA legend – once known for warning Caitlin Clark that “reality is coming” ahead of her pro debut – is now humbly eating her words after watching the rookie take the league by storm.
During Sunday’s NCAA national championship game, Taurasi shared a surprising on-air moment of self-awareness after Clark congratulated her on retirement during the Bird & Taurasi Show. “Thank you,” Taurasi said with a grin. “Unfortunately, reality is coming to me now.”
It was a stark contrast to her headline-making comments from a year ago, when she questioned whether Clark could transition from dominating college hoops to holding her own against seasoned pros.
Caitlin shot down Taurasi’s prediction
“There’s levels to this thing,”Taurasi said back then. “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.”
Fast forward one season, and Clark has more than proven her place. The former Iowa phenom averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game in her rookie year – turning around a struggling Indiana Fever squad and leading them to the playoffs.
Along the way, she collected Rookie of the Year honors, an All-Star nod, a First-Team All-WNBA selection, and finished fourth in MVP voting. Not bad for someone allegedly about to get a “reality check.”
Can Clark ever overshadow Taurasi?
To her credit, the Phoenix Mercury star – an 11-time All-Star, MVP, and three-time WNBA champ – now seems to be taking the high road. Her light-hearted acknowledgment of Clark’s impact may signal a softening stance, especially as the rookie edges closer to GOAT territory once reserved solely for veterans like Taurasi.
Looks like Clark didn’t just survive the WNBA – she’s thriving in it. And even the greatest can’t deny it anymore.
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