The pearl-clutching reactions to Diana Taurasi’s comments about Caitlin Clark are a reminder that for all of women’s basketball’s newfound attention, respect for the sport still needs to catch up.
Clark is expected to be the first pick of the Indiana Fever in Monday’s WNBA Draft. Taurasi, an international superstar and surefire future hall of famer, had the audacity to suggest Clark had a challenging transition in front of her and that the Iowa star might not just pick up where she left off when she goes from NCAA to WNBA.
Taurasi’s straight-ahead hard-charging play isn’t much different than her personality. When ESPN hired her to do a Manningcast-style alternate broadcast of the women’s tournament, it was to be Charles Barkley, not Mike Greenberg. The former UConn star and WNBA superstar is funny, blunt and honest.
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Promoting that broadcast on SportsCenter, Scott Van Pelt asked her what Clark could expect and Taurasi was truthful.
“Reality is coming,” Taurasi told Van Pelt. “You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds but you’re going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”
And added:
“There is gonna be a transition period where you’re going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie,” Taurasi said.
That’s neither mean-spirited nor outrageous. Still, it sparked backlash on social media and among some media members, who criticized Taurasi for being negative.
But it would be startling if Clark was among those aggrieved. Clark doesn’t need shielding from anyone and certainly not from other basketball players. Because everyone knows somebody who looks like her and she flashes hand hearts to the crowd after games, too many people have cast Clark as their niece or the polite girl from their neighborhood, who happens to have a ridiculous jump shot.
In reality, Clark is a beast. Players don’t get as good as she is without a competitive fire other people don’t fully understand. That’s something to celebrate.
Many great athletes — Michael Jordan and Pedro Martinez were famous for it — conjure up slights to motivate them. Clark doesn’t have to. Taurasi left a steaming slight on her doorstep. She doesn’t have to make up ‘nobody-thought-I could-do-it’ stories, she can simply point at Taurasi.
Taurasi has been an apex predator in the WNBA for a long time. She’s announcing Clark has to earn her next level of star status and that the league’s elite aren’t going to roll out the red carpet just because Clark is popular and good for ticket sales.
Taurasi and her fellow established stars aren’t handing off the baton as the face of the WNBA. Clark will have to rip it out of her hands. It’s better that way.
The greats all got tested. NBA vets couldn’t wait to challenge LeBron. They all wanted to dunk on Yao and on Wembanyama. NHL vets picked fights with Bobby Orr and put a little extra into their checks on Connor McDavid as a rookie. They all had to prove it.
So will Caitlin Clark. She’ll either be Steph Curry or Jimmer Fredette. She’ll get better because of it or she’ll fail.
If Taurasi is right and Clark struggles at first, it’ll be a good reminder that the WNBA is really good. If someone as good as Clark needs acclimation, more people, especially newcomers, will realize how good. If Clark thrives early, that means she’s better than even her peers realize and her legend will keep growing.
Either way, Clark and the Fever vs. Taurasi and the Mercury on June 30 in Phoenix is now a big game. Just like Clark vs. Angel Reese had a big lead up with ample anticipation and promotion, the WNBA’s Rookie vs. the G.O.A.T. should now be circled and broadcast on national TV.
That’s a win for everybody.
Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.
