“Reality is coming.” Those were the Phoenix Mercury veteran Diana Taurasi’s words when she was asked on Sportscenter in April earlier this year if the rookies, namely Caitlin Clark, would be able to replicate her astounding performances in the WNBA. As we all know, Clark performed exceptionally well in college, so much so that she overtook Pete Maravich as the all-time leading scorer in the men’s and women’s NCAA circuit. Her average touched the ceiling as she scored 31.6 points per game with 7.4 rebounds per match and 8.2 assists per contest in her last season. But Taruasi’s words looked like a sort of warning to the NCAA Queen.

And hence when Clark was about to battle Taurasi on Sunday during the game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever at the Footprint Center, Clark’s fans did not hesitate in taking a dig at Taurasi.

Meanwhile, Taurasi hadn’t just stopped there. In the same TV program, she went on to state how Clark was playing against a bunch of inexperienced kids in the WNBA and how her averages would drop when she would make headway into the cash-rich league where she would battle against veterans.

“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,” Taurasi had enunciated then.

Though her comments must have been intended as a reality check for Clark and prove right currently (since the latter has been trying to find ground and emulate her previous college performances), the words definitely did not sit well with her admirers who regarded Taurasi as being hateful of Clark because of the attention she had got throughout her NCAA career. Hence, as mentioned previously, just hours before the contest between Clark and Taurasi, the former’s fans did not spare the California-born.

Caitlin Clark Fans spill hate against Diana Taurasi

“TODAY IS THE DAY! 🤣 Let’s go @IndianaFever ! #feverrising,” one fan commented. The user attached an image of Taurasi and Clark where the 42-year-old was called the retiree, whereas Clark was labelled the goat. The follower must have been trying to overtly state the fact that while Taurasi is the oldest player in the league and is at the age where a lot of WNBA players have taken retirement, Clark is one of the Goats of the game because of her exceptional NCAA display.

“Today is the day Caitlin Clark embarrasses the hell out of Diana Taurasi and shows the world why she should replace DT on the Olympic squad With any luck she’ll force DT into retirement 😂,” another user commented. The netizen was enunciating the fact that Taurasi was already past retirement age. Therefore, as per the fan, Clark should make her rightful claim to the Olympic team by giving Taurasi a hard time in this game.

“As woke as @DianaTaurasi is, I remain surprised she used “women” here. 🤣 Never meet your idols, @CaitlinClark22 🤷🏻‍♂️ and I hope you drop 30 on them today,” another fan commented. The fan was taking a sly dig at Taurasi for using the word women since she is considered to be really progressive and does not differentiate between men and women athletes. The fan also wished that Clark, who had revealed on Saturday as per the Indy Star that Taurasi was her idol, decimates her and does not get an opportunity to meet her.

“I wonder if @DianaTaurasi is going to thank @CaitlinClark22 for people finally knowing who she is. Imagine being in the league for 20 years and people are just finding out who you are,” another fan expressed. The fan was pointing out to the fact that Taurasi had garnered quite a limelight amid her Clark controversy, and is more recognised than ever.

“The overweight senior citizen bully Diana taurasi needs to be put out to pasture. Phoenix is rooting for Caitlin Clark,” another netizen commented. The user was trying to draw a conclusion that the Phoenix natives must be rooting for Clark instead of Taurasi. It is to be noted that as per Across the Timeline, the Indiana Fever away games have an average attendance of 15,174.91 and occupy the top place in spectators average among other teams, whereas the Mercury stands at sixth place in home games with an average of 9,808.78 people. Therefore, it might be possible that many fans will attend the game just to see Clark in action.

Perhaps, it would not only hurt Taurasi but Clark too to see these messages as she had called Taurasi her idol. Meanwhile, all Taurasi can do is make a strong case in today’s game by defeating Clark. As for Clark, she might come forward to appeal to her followers not to hate Taurasi and let her be if the situation arises in the future.