Caitlin Clark dominated women’s college basketball for four seasons, but she will find life more difficult in the WNBA, according to Diana Taurasi, who said the Iowa star will face a “transition period” in the pros.
Clark, whose Hawkeyes will appear in Sunday’s national championship game for the second straight year, is a two-time reigning AP Player of the Year, the all-time leading scorer in Division 1 (men’s or women’s) and the presumptive No. 1 pick. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.
Still, Taurasi — a UConn legend and professional in her own right — thinks Clark will struggle early on in the WNBA.
“Reality hits, there are levels to this thing,” she told Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter when asked about Clark and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso moving on to the pros.
“And that’s just life, we’ve all been through it… You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds but you’re going to come (play) with grown women who have been playing professional basketball for a long time .
Caitlin Clark dominated women’s college basketball for four seasons at Iowa
But Diana Taurasi (R) believes there will be a “transition period” for her in the WNBA.
“I’m not saying it won’t translate, because when you’re good at what you do, you’re just going to get better,” Taurasi added. “But there’s going to be a transition period, where you’re going to have to give yourself a little grace as a rookie.”
Taurasi’s comments came after Clark and Iowa beat 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 him with the first pick in the WNBA draft.
Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Iowa on Friday night.
The Bueckers, meanwhile, had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists in the loss.
Clark and Iowa will face South Carolina on Sunday in the national championship.
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