WNBA Legend Leaves Caitlin Clark Fans in Splits by Calling Her ‘Good Friend’ in Lavish Praise

“Reality is coming.” Before Caitlin Clark even entered the WNBA, league’s GOAT Diana Taurasi had already become her adversary. With that, sprung up another narrative around the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer – WNBA veterans are petty. Soon, everyone forgot how the valley’s superstar had once also called Clark her and Sue Bird’s “love child,” with the talents of the two mixed into one. The narrative only caught more sparks when the heavily-touted Iowa sensation entered the league as the first overall pick.

But a lot changed as Diana Taurasi hugged Caitlin Clark in front of a roaring sellout crowd at the Gainbridge Fiehouse in their first matchup of the 2024 WNBA season. A lot more changed as the Fever landed in Phoenix for their final regular series game, having won over DT’s team twice already. Then, Indiana won 88-82 to sweep the franchise for the first time since 2015. And Clark got the much-deserved standing ovation from the 17,ooo-plus crowd. And just like that, the valley that had been Taurasi’s for 20 years saw the “baby GOAT” take her crown. Things had changed.

It was visible when, while walking away from the game, Taurasi paid the due respect to Clark and accepted her loss, “The reality came to me.” The narrative was bashed a long time ago. Through all the games, when Taurasi would stand next to Clark during free throws and crack some jokes for the rookie or vice versa, and the mutual respect and praise they showed. But for the loyal Indiana fans, not everything is so easily forgotten. Not even if Taurasi spells it out like she did recently.

During the National Sports Collectors Convention, the three-time WNBA champ made it crystal clear. A fan shared Taurasi’s clip from the event where she said, “Me and Caitlin are really good friends. We get along really well. We’ve had some great interactions. I just absolutely love what she does on the court, off the court.

“When I watch her play, and the way she goes about her business, there’s that seriousness about it that I love. You know, she’s taking this game to new heights and it’s been amazing to watch and follow her. You know, it’s only gonna get better for our league and for Caitlin.”

Everyone in the league already knows how fun hanging out with Taurasi has been over the years. Through her former connections and current team, Clark’s relations also reflect the same sentiments. On the court, the two are serious competitors who would not stop at anything. Off the court, not many can be bigger pranksters than the two.

In fact, during Taurasi’s reign, along with Brittney Griner and Sophie Cunningham, Phoenix was one of the funniest teams in the league. The same goes for Clark, who has openly accepted that she loves playing pranks on her teammates, Iowa or Indiana. No wonder the two now have a great friendship. But the fans stand divided.

Fans weigh in as Diana Taurasi openly praises Caitlin Clark

Early on, there was so much noise about Diana Taurasi throwing shade; some fans read it as animosity. Between her choosing Paige Bueckers over Clark on the “Bird & Taurasi Show” and that infamous “reality is coming” line, things didn’t get calmer. But here’s the thing: it was never personal. Taurasi was just being, well, Taurasi—competitive, blunt, and real. And picking Paige? Well, that’s her baby Husky. But once fans turned sour, they did not flip.

For some, that still holds. “The people who potentially decided that they somehow disliked (I think haters is wrong) Caitlin Clark will eventually come around to be her biggest supporters as they eventually believe, what is there about Caitlin that we dislike, the answer is, they don’t know,” one of them claimed.

It didn’t take much time for Clark to prove her mettle either. Although she would have TOs in her games, she soon hushed the weaknesses with her record-breaking games. Showing why she was touted, she led the Fever into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Not to mention, she swept the Mercury and Taurasi, who gave Indiana their playoff loss a decade ago. It’s only natural that the fans say what they say.

“She’s jealous and a hater. We ain’t rocking with her. Kick rocks Diana.” That one came in hot. But before you fully cancel the GOAT, it’s worth looking a little deeper. Taurasi’s initial comments were followed up not with more jabs, but with some genuine praise. After their first game, where Clark almost brushed a triple-double with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists, Diana told the press: “It’s amazing what Caitlin’s been able to do… She loves the game. You can tell she’s put the work in.” That doesn’t sound like jealousy—it sounds like respect.

“Reality came to her and now she’s friends with Caitlin.” Well, it came way before the recent saga. When time Clark appeared on the “Bird & Taurasi Show” this year, she was congratulating Diana on retirement, and Taurasi? She jokingly flipped her old comment, saying, “Reality is coming to me now.” That right there felt like a full-circle moment. Fans immediately caught the callback—and Clark? She just smiled.

Clark never took Taurasi’s comments to heart. She hailed her once as her favorite opponent.“She’s such an icon in our sport and has been in the game for so long. You know, getting to share the court with her was pretty fun, and you just see her competitive spirit.” Those who loved that moment are loving DT’s recent revelation too.

“Very nice to hear,” another noted. This whole rivalry thing? Mostly fan-fueled, just like the CC-Angel Reese rivalry. Even when Taurasi was giving Clark a hard foul and some classic trash talk during their 2024 regular-season matchup, it was mutual fun. The former Hawkeye is a fiery competitor and does not shy away from trash-talking either. As Clark told David Letterman later: “She came back at me and I’m like ‘Alright, do it again!’… Then we were standing outside the three-point line and she just came up to me and was like ‘I just love ya.’”

That’s not beef—that’s bonding. Clark even said she idolized Taurasi growing up, despite the tough love. Sometimes, it’s just two competitors having fun in the middle of a battle. “It was just her competitive nature, she’s retired now so it’s all good.”And that’s really what it comes down to.

Diana Taurasi has always been unapologetically fierce—she built a once-in-a-generation career on that edge. The only WNBA player to score over 10,000 points, Taurasi racked up 10,646 regular-season points and another 1,476 in the playoffs. She led the Phoenix Mercury to three WNBA championships, won five scoring titles, was named league MVP in 2009, and Finals MVP twice. And let’s not forget—she became the first basketball player, man or woman, to win six Olympic gold medals.

So, when she made that “reality is coming” comment? It wasn’t hate—it was just that trademark edge. There’s no drama, no feud—just two eras of greatness, passing the torch with a little trash talk and a whole lot of mutual respect.