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In Thursday’s release of the final episode in the three-part “Taurasi” docuseries, the WNBA legend discussed her 2024 comments on then-Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark, which drew major social media backlash from the passionate Clark fan base at the time.
Taurasi is regarded as one of the WNBA’s most influential players during its 28 years of operation. She played 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury (2004-24) and retired as the league’s all-time leading scorer and as a three-time champion. Taurasi was a 10-time All-Star, a 10-time All-WNBA first-team selection, the 2004 Rookie of the Year Award winner, the league MVP in 2009 and the finals MVP in 2009 and 2014.
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In the docuseries’ third and final segment, released on Aug. 7, a portion of the episode focused on Taurasi’s 2024 comments on Caitlin Clark’s rapid ascent to global stardom, saying the Hawkeyes’ dominance in the college ranks would not translate to the much more experienced WNBA.
Given the overarching topic of the docuseries, the focus was more on how the fans of Clark, who were outraged by the comments, may not have known who Taurasi is, especially if their interest in the league was significantly tied to Clark’s fandom.
Where the docuseries may re-agitate the Clark fan base is how it defines Taurasi’s impact on the WNBA future by stating Clark’s worldwide influence and recognition at the professional level are only possible because of how Diana Taurasi’s historic 20-year career set the stage for the next generation of the league’s stars to thrive.
While there is truth to the fact Taurasi’s stardom helped revitalize the league’s public perception and overall legitimacy as a professional sports league, the unintentional slight the episode gives off appears to align with the growing agenda that Clark is benefiting from convenient circumstances and that her skills are simply coincidental instead of legitimate.
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While that notion is clearly unintended, it adds fuel to the irritation over the WNBA within the Clark fan base as the former Iowa women’s basketball and current Indiana Fever cornerstone continues to recover from her fourth and most recent injury that has sidelined her for 10 straight games.
Although it may sound cliché, the only way to get back at doubters is by proving them wrong. In Clark’s case, that is returning from injury and continuing the league-wide dominance displayed in her rookie season.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Diana Taurasi documentary revisits infamous Caitlin Clark remark
