Caitlin Clark reunites with Diana Taurasi after ‘sensitive’ comments on WNBA star

WNBA star Caitlin Clark will join Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi on the alternate broadcast of the NCAA Women’s Tournament National Championship game between South Carolina and UConn

Caitlin Clark is set to be on the call for ESPN’s alternate broadcast of the NCAA Women’s Tournament National Championship game between South Carolina and UConn.

The Gamecocks and Huskies will face off on Sunday at Amalie Arena in Florida, with the former seeking to defend the National Championship they won last year when they beat Clark and Iowa to the 2024 crown.

The Indiana Fever star will join Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi on the alternate broadcast, which will be similar to the show Peyton and Eli Manning appear on during ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football’ coverage.

And by appearing on the alternate call, Clark will be sitting alongside Taurasi, who caught heat back in April 2024 for comments she made about the former Hawkeye guard’s ability to adapt to life in the WNBA following her stellar college career.

Speaking to ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt back in April 2024, the former Phoenix Mercury guard who retired earlier this year, said: “Look, SVP, reality is coming [for Clark].

“There’s levels to this thing. And that’s just life. We all went through it. You see it on the NBA side, and you’re going to see it on this side.

“You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re going to [be playing against] some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”

She added: “Not saying [Clark’s skills] are not gonna translate, because when you’re great at what you do, you’re just gonna get better. But there is gonna be a transition period where you’re gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.”

Despite the comments made by Taurasi in April 2024, there is no animosity between her and Clark

Taurasi would later go on to call fans who took her comments as a criticism of Clark “really sensitive”. She added during a Mercury media availability last season: “The new fans are really sensitive these days and you can’t say anything.

“It’s kind of like when you go from kindergarten to first grade there’s a learning adjustment, when you go from high school to college there’s a learning adjustment.

“I don’t think I said anything that wasn’t factually correct. Like anything, greatness is going to translate and she’s proven that in every level and I don’t see that being any different in the WNBA.”

Ultimately, Clark proved she was ready for the next level during her rookie campaign, after she won the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award, alongside being named a 2024 WNBA All-Star.