Caitlin Clark receives harsh warning from Brittney Griner

The Phoenix Mercury forward recalled the adjustments she had to make in her rookie year.

Brittney Griner (L) and Caitlin Clark were the top picks in their...

Brittney Griner (L) and Caitlin Clark were the top picks in their respective drafts.LAPRESSE

Caitlin Clark is a sporting and advertising phenomenon. The arrival of the former Iowa Hawkeye to the Indiana Fever has sparked all kinds of reactions among the media, fans, and players. Among the latter, veteran Brittney Griner issued a stern warning to the rookie: Professional basketball is a different world.

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In an interview with People magazine for the recent release of her book “Coming Home,” Griner admitted that the arrival of the 2024 draft class will be a turning poing for the WNBA. “The hype that Caitlin and some others have right now is amazing for the league. There’s good talent coming in,” Griner accepted.

The Phoenix Mercury forward recalled that her arrival to the WNBA 10 years ago, as the first overall selection in the 2013 Draft, was very complicated for her. Although Griner was called a “generational” talent, like Clark, she had to make serious adjustments to her game to adapt to professional basketball.

“It’s different when you come from college to the pros. I went from top dog to my numbers going down a bit,” Griner recalled. The star forward went from averaging 22.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game with the Baylor Lady Bears to 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and one assist with the Mercury.

Clark will face tougher competition

Griner recalled that her first season as a professional was an “eye-opener” and warned Clark that the competition would be very different from what she faced in college. “You’re going up against grown women. This is how they feed their families. This is not just for the love of the [game]. This is their livelihood,” the player explained.

She recalled when she arrived on the WNBA hardwood, “I had to get stronger, lock in a little more. There will be some growing [pains] for her, but she’ll be fine.”

Despite her respect for Clark, Griner admitted that she was not a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, especially when they reached the finals of the NCAA Tournament, where they faced the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Griner and coach Dawn Staley

The Mercury forward is an old friend of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. Griner worked under Staley on Team USA, and the coach was one of her biggest supporters during her imprisonment in Russia.

“I saw [Staley] at the Final Four, right before the National Championship. I told her, ‘Go get it. That’s yours,'” Griner recalled. “I just knew South Carolina was going to win,” said the forward.

VIDEO: Stephen A. Smith Drops Bombshell Candidate For Los Angeles Lakers Head Coaching Vacancy

Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen A. Smith Monty WilliamsStephen A. Smith, Los Angeles Lakers (Image Credits: Getty Images)
In a recent episode of the show “First Take,” host Stephen A. Smith suggested a new name for the head coaching position of the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith believes that Monty Williams should “definitely” be considered as a candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching position. He also noted that despite the hype around JJ Redick, Williams could be a better candidate for the Lakers to consider.

“I know we’ve been talking a lot about JJ Reddick, but with Monty Williams available, that is a situation that the Los Angeles Lakers should look at, okay? So I would definitely say that as well. They should look at it.” Smith said.

Stephen A. Smith Expressed His Respect for the Los Angeles Lakers

Smith expressed his affection for Jeannie Buss, the Lakers owner, and showed his admiration for Rob Pelinka, the general manager, and Kurt Rambis, the basketball adviser. Smith suggested that all three Lakers officials should consider Williams a candidate for the head coaching position.

“Obviously, Jeannie Buss, you know how much I love Jeannie Buss. I’m rooting for her to find the right person for the job. Respect Rob Pelinka and what he’s going to do, you know, and yes, I respect Kurt Rambis too. I was joking around about him earlier, but I respect him too. So listen, they’re all going to be a part of the process, and we’ll see what happens. And, you know, I think Monty Williams definitely should be a candidate for that job.” Smith added.

After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers decided to make some changes to improve the team. They started by firing all of the coaches, including head coach Darvin Ham. Following this action, the Lakers began searching for a potential candidate to lead the team in the next season. The first rumored candidate was Redick, possibly due to his podcast with star player LeBron James. The second speculated candidate was Dan Hurley, who later changed his mind and chose to stay with UConn.