Diana Taurasi may be one of the greatest ever to play the game, but even legends can miss. During a live ESPN segment with Caitlin Clark, the WNBA icon finally addressed her infamous comment from last year about the Indiana Fever star—one that didn’t age so well.
And she did it with honesty and a whole lot of humor. What started as a subtle jab at a rookie has now turned into one of the best full-circle moments of the WNBA season.
Diana Taurasi Makes A U-Turn
The 42-year old Phoenix Mercury legend joined Clark as a guest on ESPN’s Bird & Taurasi Show during the 2025 NCAA national championship. When Clark congratulated her on retirement, the WNBA legend couldn’t help but bring up her own words from last year.
“Thank you,” Taurasi said, pausing just a moment before adding: “Unfortunately, reality is coming to me now.”
The moment left Clark and Sue Bird in stitches, as the two burst out laughing at Taurasi’s callback to her now-viral prediction.
This wasn’t just any comment. In April 2024, when Clark was gearing up for WNBA, Taurasi told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, “Look, SVP. Reality is coming.” She added, “You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re gonna come [play] with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”
At the time, Taurasi’s comments stirred debate. But fast forward a year, and Clark has proven she’s more than ready for the big leagues.
Clark’s Unprecedented Rise Forced Taurasi To Rethink
The Fever sophomore had one of the most explosive debuts in WNBA history. In 2024, she was named an All-Star, earned Rookie of the Year honors, and made the All-Rookie Team. She even recorded the league’s first-ever triple-double by a rookie and set the WNBA’s single-game assist record with 19 dimes in a loss to Dallas Wings.
Taurasi, to her credit, hasn’t doubled down on her take. Instead, she’s shown Clark nothing but respect and was classy enough to acknowledge her misfire on national TV with a smile.
Additionally, Clark’s impact has stretched beyond the court. She’s been at the center of a surge in women’s basketball viewership with the basketball community calling it the Caitlin Clark Effect.
Meanwhile, Taurasi’s legendary career deserves its flowers too. She played 565 games, averaged 18.8 points, and walked away with three WNBA championships and two Finals MVPs.
She announced her retirement on February 26, closing a 20-year run that shaped the WNBA. And with one humble joke, she proved that legends know when to laugh and when to give credit where it’s due.