Taurasi later criticized "new fans" of the league as being "sensitive" following some of the backlash she received.

“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," Taurasi said via the New York Post. "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.”

Taurasi also addressed the uproar caused by Clark being snubbed from the U.S. women's basketball Olympics team, reassuring the rookie phenom that "everything will fall into place" once she fully adjusts from the collegiate level to the pros.

Clark, 22, has averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds through her first 18 games, though the Fever have struggled with a 7-11 record, which included losing eight of their first 10 games in 2024. The former University of Iowa standout is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history and her collegiate dominance has led to a significant spike in the popularity of women's basketball.

The Fever have accounted for all of the five most-watched WNBA games since 2002, which includes their June 16 win against the Chicago Sky (1.3 rating and 2.25 million viewers) surpassing Clark's WNBA debut on ESPN2 Opening Night as the league's most-watched game since the 2001 Memorial Day matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets, which totaled 2.44 million viewers.

This story is brought to you by the Women's Sports Audio Network (WSAN). WSAN is the first-ever audio platform dedicated exclusively to women's sports. WSAN celebrates female athletes and gives an in-depth look into their personal experiences in and out of their respective sports. Check out more on the WSAN site.

Mark Simone