What’s higher than stars coming into your league?
Rivalries forming as soon as they enter it.
Caitlin Clark and Diana Taurasi have by no means confronted one another on the basketball court docket, however the two No. 1 total picks — Clark, the latest to that listing, which got here 20 years after Taurasi — will doubtless stage one of many WNBA’s most watched head-to-head matchups this coming common season.
Even WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged the potential old skool vs. new faculty rivalry that could be brewing among the many fellow guards.
“Enterprise is booming,” Engelbert admitted throughout a Thursday look on CNBC.
She then added: “Hopefully, a rising tide lifts all boats and can carry all of our groups. We now have some nice rivalries forming with Caitlin-Sabrina (Ionescu) in New York, with Caitlin-Diana Taurasi in Phoenix, there’s slightly edge there.”
On April 8, one week earlier than Clark was formally chosen No. 1 total by the Indiana Fever, the Mercury marketed their pending June 30 matchup with Indiana in Phoenix, billing the competition as “The GOAT vs. The Rook.”
This additionally comes on the heels of Taurasi saying that Clark may very well be in for considerably of a impolite awakening when taking part in her rookie season within the W.
“Actuality is coming, there’s ranges to this factor,” Taurasi mentioned throughout an look on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt early in April when requested about Clark, together with South Carolina heart Kamilla Cardoso, who was later chosen No. 3 total by the Chicago Sky.
“And that’s simply life, all of us went by means of it,” Taurasi went on. “You look superhuman taking part in towards some 18 years olds however you’re going to return [play] with some grown ladies which were taking part in skilled basketball for a very long time. Not saying it’s not gonna translate, as a result of once you’re nice at what you do, you’re simply gonna get higher.
“However there’s gonna be a transition interval, the place you’re gonna have to provide your self some grace as a rookie.”
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