The Sunday blockbuster featuring the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury is just around the corner. The occasion also marks the first battle between the two WNBA names at different ends of their careers: Rookie Caitlin Clark and 20-year veteran Diana Taurasi. While Taurasi was quite dismissive of the Iowa alumna a few months ago, she knows what Clark brings to the table. Moreover, Clark has always had praise for the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer. But before the rookie can take on the vet, Fever’s head coach Christie Sides provided a fair bit of an insight into what really awaits them on Sunday.
In the Fever’s latest Media Availability, the reporters interacted with the 47-year-old head coach to have a clearer picture of their intriguing queries. One of them is Sides’ reflection of the 2× WNBA Finals MVP. “Competitor. That’s what you remember about Diana Taurasi. It doesn’t matter what age or level she was at, College, pro, overseas. I had the opportunity to coach her overseas. It’s just a different level. She is just one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met.” Sides told the reporters.
As it turns out, Christie Sides is reminiscing about her college experience with Tauarsi. In 2004, Sides became a part of the coaching staff at LSU, and Taurasi won the national championship with UConn. In addition to this, she also ended up being the overall No.1 pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. The two of them also shared a brief coach-player relationship in Russia from 2007 to 2010. One year after Taurasi joined Spartak Moscow in 2006, Sides filled the franchise’s assistant coach position.
Sides further credited Taurasi for maintaining her level despite being just 5 years younger than the Indiana head coach. The upcoming contest also provides a platform for a thrilling 3-point face-off between Caitlin Clark and Diana Taurasi. While Clark is currently second in the league overall with 56 beyond-the-arc shots, Taurasi is 5th and her tally is 48. Her efficiency is 1.1% better than that of Clark’s.
via Getty
However, that doesn’t stop the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer from heaping praises about the WNBA all-time leading scorer.
Caitlin Clark acknowledges Diana Taurasi’s greatness
Hardly anyone would argue that Diana Taurasi has been an inspiration for many young basketball players. Caitlin Clark recently admitted that she is one of those. Before she could go against the White Mamba for the very first time, she expressed what it meant for her to share the court with the consensus GOAT.
Clark expressed, “It’s incredible. It’s a dream come true. You get to live out your dream while playing against the best. Obviously, she’s one of the greatest players our game has ever seen, the greatest scorer our game has ever seen.”
Surely, the fixture is expected to be quite a spectacle for the fans. They will be thrilled to witness both these professional athletes be at their very best against each other. Only time will tell what will transpire in this enticing encounter.
