Caitlin Clark gets encouragement from Diana Taurasi after WNBA adjustment prediction came true
Clark has only posted 29 points through two games in her rookie season
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin ClarkAP
Caitlin Clark has received the backing of Diana Taurasi after a difficult start to her time in the WNBA as the Phoenix Mercy star gives her crucial words of encouragement at the dawn of her career as a professional basketballer.
Taurasi must’ve had a crystal ball back in April when in the middle of the NCAA Women’s March Madness competition, she issued a reality check to Clark by warning her the WNBA is not the same as college basketball, and adapting will take time.
Caitlin Clark is captured yelling at feferee’s face amid early WNBA struggles
And that’s exactly what has happened as Clark‘s Indiana Fever have lost their opening two games of the season, including a 36-point blowout loss to the New York Liberty. Clark herself has posted 29 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in both games combined.
She was getting those stats in one NCAA game a few months ago, and to be honest, they would have been pretty disappointing by her standards, but as she struggles, the players in the WNBA look to lift her up.
“I still don’t feel comfortable,” the 41-year-veteran Taurasi said, speaking on the physicality of the WNBA. “It’s an uncomfortable league.
“It’s physical, it’s a grind. You never feel comfortable. You feel used to the things around you (as you play more).
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“At the same time, she’s in an interesting position where she’s played on the ball her whole career. Sometimes you have to play off the ball, sometimes that’s the solution.”
What did Taurasi say?
As someone with 20 years of experience in the WNBA, three championships under her belt and two WNBA Finals MVP awards as well as being an All-Star as recently as 2021, Taurasi clearly knows what she’s talking about.
She did that by giving Clark, Kamilla Kardoso and Cameron Brink a reality check ahead of the season by telling them they’re not going to be playing against teenagers any longer.
“Reality is coming, there’s levels to this thing,” Taurasi said to SportCenter. “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.
“I’m not saying that it’s not going to translate, when you’re great at what you do, you’re just going to get better, but there is going to be a transition period when you have to give some grace as a rookie. It may take a little bit longer for some people.”
