Year 2004… Diana Taurasi had just stepped into the WNBA as a fearless rookie. Meanwhile, in a quiet little home in Des Moines, a two-year-old Caitlin Clark was probably still learning the ABCs. Fast forward 20 years, and the baby watching DT dismantle defenses on her living room TV was now the one doing the dismantling. Not only did she get to face her idol on the hardwood, but she also crushed her team thrice. All double-digit games! It’s the kind of full-circle story you’d think was scripted. And even with Taurasi hanging up the jersey after 20 legendary seasons, the comparisons are louder than ever.

There’s no doubt Taurasi is the most prolific scorer the league has seen. The only one to crack the 10,000-point mark. But her greatness goes way beyond the buckets. DT changed the league. She gave it an edge, a swagger, a face. And for players like Clark, who idolized her every move, that mattered. “That’s somebody I grew up idolizing and looking up to and wanting to be like one day,” Clark once said. “I don’t think many people realize how hard that is to do [what she did].” 

But if anyone does get it, it’s Clark herself. Because now, she’s the one carrying the needle. The one pulling the fans. The one who just might be next. Recently, Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox, who spent years with the Mercury, did say that Diana Taurasi is the GOAT, but couldn’t help but note the similarities. 

“The level of investment that [Taurasi] had in the Mercury, [Clark’s interest in the Fever] reminds me of that,” she said. Dee was Phoenix. For 20 years, the Valley was hers. Yet somehow, in just her second season, Clark has made Indiana feel like hers, too. Like it always belonged to her. Just when we thought the comparisons might settle, Sue Bird – DT’s longtime friend – chimed in on the “Casual with Katie Nolan” podcast.

When asked who reminded her most of Taurasi, she didn’t hesitate to toss in a familiar name. She initially said that Courtney Williams has some of it, but added that she isn’t an all-time great. “Caitlin has that generational play and a little bit of that cockiness,” the 4x champion then said. “You’re starting to see that come out more. So Caitlin might be the best comp.” Can we argue?

Both are smart, savvy guards who see the floor like it’s a chessboard. Both can dish out dimes or drain a logo three without blinking. Both are elite scorers- Taurasi leads the W, and Clark leads the NCAA. Taurasi is considered one of the greatest of all time in both the collegiate and WNBA ranks, and Clark is on her way to that, too.

But more than that, it’s the fire. They’re not afraid to speak their minds to refs. Or anyone, really. DT was suspended four times for racking up technicals over her career, including twice in one season. It even became a bit of a meme. Meanwhile, CC collected six techs in her rookie year. One more and she’d have been watching from the sidelines. For this year, she did promise Coach Stephanie White, but after what went down in the preseason, it’s hard to believe her.

So even if DT’s retired, her spirit is far from gone. Because Caitlin is carrying the flame. Through the assists. Through the deep threes. Through the fire. And as her new teammate puts it, we’ve got our “baby GOAT.”

Caitlin Clark’s new teammate sees a new GOAT era begin

The Fever pulled off a massive four-team trade that shook things up this offseason. Satou Sabally is now with the Mercury, DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith landed in Dallas, and Indiana got a whole new weapon in Sophie Cunningham. Sophie is not just any shooter or lockdown defender (though she’s very good at both). She’s also a full-time hype woman for Caitlin Clark. She never misses a chance to praise her.

Even in preseason, we saw a glimpse of what she brings to the court and the locker room. As fans say, she has already joined the ‘Clark de-escalation committee.” But this didn’t start yesterday. Cunningham spent six years in Phoenix, soaking in knowledge from DT and Brittney Griner. She saw what greatness looks like every single day. Now, she’s bringing that experience to Indy. Right as Clark starts writing her own legendary chapter.

“I just think she has that same mindset that D[iana Taurasi] has,” Cunningham said. She talked about how she used to be a sponge around DT, watching her habits, learning from the dos and don’ts. Now, she sees the same kind of fire in Clark. “She has an itch and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win,” the vet added.

But Sophie’s not just there to watch. She wants to be the one Clark can lean on- on the court, and off of it too.“I’m hoping that she leans on me if she wants it, and I think that’s why I’m so excited, is because I’ve been blessed to see what it looks like under the GOAT, and now you’re going to the Baby GOAT whose been all the eyes are on her, all around the world.” 

As excited as Cunningham is, we’re also thrilled to watch it all unfold, aren’t we? Because these kinds of players…the ones that move the needle, change the game, light up the league, they don’t come around often. But when they do, you feel it.