Caitlin Clark has dominated women’s college basketball for four seasons, but she will find life harder in the WNBA, according to Diana Taurasi, who claimed the Iowa star will face a ‘transition period’ in the pros.
Clark, whose Hawkeyes will play in the national championship game for the second year running on Sunday, is the two-time reigning AP women’s Player of the Year, the all-time leading scorer in Division 1 (men’s or women’s) and presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft.
Still, Taurasi – a UConn and pro legend in her own right – believes Clark will struggle initially in the WNBA.
‘Reality is coming, there’s levels to this thing,’ she told Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter, when asked about Clark and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso jumping to the pros.
‘And that’s just life, we all went through it… You look superhuman playing against some 18 years olds but you’re going to come [play] with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.
Caitlin Clark has dominated women’s college basketball for four seasons at Iowa
But Diana Taurasi (right) believes there will be a ‘transition period’ for her in the WNBA
‘Not saying it’s not gonna translate, because when you’re great at what you do, you’re just gonna get better,’ Taurasi added. ‘But there is gonna be a transition period, where you’re gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.’
Taurasi’s comments came after Clark and Iowa defeated UConn and Paige Bueckers 71-69 in the Final Four on Friday.
And earlier in the night, Taurasi once again had some strong words for Clark, saying she would ‘absolutely’ take Bueckers over her with the first pick in the WNBA Draft.
Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Iowa on Friday night.
Bueckers, meanwhile, tallied 17 points, four rebounds and three assists in the loss.
Clark and Iowa will face South Carolina in the national championship on Sunday.
