Previously, Taurasi had sparked discussions about “reality” confronting Caitlin Clark upon her WNBA entry. However, Sunday’s events underscored a profound mutual respect between the 20-year veteran legend and the rookie sensation.
Before the game began, Taurasi and Clark exchanged warm greetings. Following Clark’s near-triple-double performance in the Indiana Fever’s 88-82 victory over Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury, the 42-year-old guard publicly praised the No. 1 overall draft pick during her postgame press conference.
“It’s incredible. What Caitlin has achieved in her brief career thus far is truly remarkable,” Taurasi remarked. “What I truly admire about her is her passion for the game. You can see the dedication she’s put in. Despite facing immense pressure and challenges early in her WNBA career, she continues to show up and improve every single game. Her future looks incredibly bright.”
#Mercury Diana Taurasi on Caitlin Clark after loss to Indiana #wnba pic.twitter.com/ozDuLLkvll
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) June 30, 2024
More from Taurasi on Clark: "…More importantly, she's done a lot for the Indiana Fever. A team that for the last couple of years is trying to get back to their glory days of Tamika Catchings and putting up banners. So obviously, what she's done for the game has been pretty… pic.twitter.com/VdTwpahyy9
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) June 30, 2024
Clark’s performance on Sunday included 15 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds, with her falling just short of becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to achieve a triple-double. Despite shooting 4-of-14 from the field, her overall contribution was instrumental.
In contrast, Taurasi scored 19 points in a losing effort for the Mercury, who now stand at 9-9 for the season.
Meanwhile, the Fever improved to 8-12 overall, having won seven of their last eleven games after starting the season with a challenging 1-8 record.