WNBA Star Diana Taurasi Calls Caitlin Clark Fans Soft

Three-time WNBA champ Diana Taurasi had sobering remarks about Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who’s entering her first year as a pro as the top WNBA draft pick and projected to be the face of the league. 

Clark’s fans weren’t happy with Taurasi’s comments, prompting the 41-year-old vet to respond to her haters, calling them soft for their ‘desperate’ defense of Caitlin Clark.

Taurasi’s remarks were pretty realistic about Clark’s transition to the pros.

Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)

Here’s what Diana Taurasi said ahead of the WNBA Draft: "'Reality is coming. There's levels to things. That's just life. We all went through it." 

Taurasi added that the league would be more punishing than playing with 18-year-olds, which Clark’s fans considered to be salty. Online commenters accused Taurasi of being jealous of Clark’s newfound fame, which inspired Taurasi to respond again, calling her haters soft.

READ: WNBA Legend Issues Blunt Warning To Caitlin Clark About Going Pro

She commented on the Caitlin Clark fuss with AZCentral.

"The new fans are really sensitive these days," Taurasi said. "You can't say anything.

It’s kind of like when you go [from] kindergarten to first grade, there's a learning adjustment. When you go from high school to college, there's a learning adjustment.

Diana Taurasi of Team United States. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

"I don't think I said anything that's factually incorrect. Like anything, greatness is going to translate. And she's proved that at every level. I don't see why that's going to be any different in the WNBA."

The Iowa star’s generational shooting has fans lining up to declare Clark as a WNBA phenom before spending a minute on the court.

Taurasi warned Clark that a transition period is on the way, suggesting Caitlin may struggle to catch on before she plays at the heights of stardom from her days with the Hawkeyes.

Expectations surrounding Clark already forecast championship wins for the early phenom, which could be harder said than done with the star-studded Las Vegas Aces and Sabrina Ionescu’s New York Liberty standing in the way. Even Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury stand a chance at keeping Clark humble, welcoming back Britney Griner to their lineup last season.

(Did Caitlin’s fans overreact to Taurasi’s comments? Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com)

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