Diana Taurasi has been considered one of the all-time greatest players to ever play in the WNBA, a reputation cemented by her historic 20-year legacy and reign as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
The Phoenix Mercury icon made headlines in February when she announced her retirement, marking the end of an era. Now she’s back in the spotlight with the newly released Amazon Prime documentary “Taurasi,” a three-part docuseries chronicling her remarkable journey.
But it’s not just her retirement or documentary creating buzz; it’s the striking comparison between the WNBA legend and current rising star Caitlin Clark.
Sophie Cunningham states the Similarity Between the Two Stars
Before Thursday’s game, during a pregame interview, Cunningham revealed one striking similarity that connects the two.
“DT will always be my goat. I’ve never met someone who thinks the game how she thinks. The way that she was a pro and doing her weights to rehab, the way she trained in the offseason when she was towards the end of her career, when she wasn’t going overseas.”
“The way that Caitlin thinks of the game, that’s a really close second. They’re always ten plays ahead of everyone. They’re always on a whole different wavelength, and I’m just happy that I got my time with DT,” said Cunningham.
Moreover, the 28-year-old admired Taurasi and said she would watch the legend’s new documentary.
“I love her to death. I’m so excited to watch her docuseries. I think she deserves the world and more. I know she’s enjoying retirement and probably going crazy,” added Cunnigham during the interview.
Sophie Cunningham told me some of the similarities in Diana Taurasi and Caitlin Clark’s approach.
“They’re always 10 plays ahead of everyone. They’re always on a different wavelength.” pic.twitter.com/ANTjhW2LCn
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) August 8, 2025
Taurasi, who finished her career with an incredible 10,646 points, built her reputation on clutch shooting, crafty passes, and an unshakable on-court presence. She could hit tough shots from anywhere and direct traffic like a coach on the floor.
Clark, meanwhile, wasted no time making her mark. In her 2024 rookie season, she shattered the WNBA single-season assist record with 337 assists, dishing out precise passes reminiscent of Taurasi at her peak. Both share the rare blend of court vision and creativity that turns a good player into a generational talent.
Of course, there’s another side to that competitive edge. Taurasi earned three suspensions over her 20-year career for technical fouls, while Clark, even as a rookie, collected six technicals and came dangerously close to a suspension herself.
Their fiery demeanors match their playmaking brilliance and make them both relentless competitors who never back down.
This season, however, Clark’s path has been far from smooth. Due to ongoing injuries, she has only suited up for 13 games, averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds.
“It’s been fun to be a sponge and then kind of talking with Caitlin, just kind of seeing that she’s at the beginning of her professional career, but there are a lot of similarities there,” added Cunningham during the interview.
On Thursday night against the Phoenix, the Fever’s struggles were evident. The Fever entered halftime trailing by 11, and the second half told the same story. Even with Cunningham contributing 18 points, the Fever fell in a (60-95) loss.
Sophie Cunningham tonight at Phoenix: pic.twitter.com/L5wrrwiBVG
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 8, 2025
Looking ahead, the Fever will try to regroup quickly as they prepare to host the Chicago Sky on August 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
