The on-court rivalry between Caitlin Clark and three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi shows no signs of cooling down, with the Phoenix Mercury's social media team adding fuel to the fire.
The Mercury's verified TikTok account posted a video that appeared to take aim at Clark, just ahead of the WNBA's return from its Olympic hiatus. The video features a fan asking, "I miss the WNBA. Caitlin, where are you?" to which another fan, wearing Mercury gear and holding a sign reading "Who is Caitlin? I'm here for Taurasi," responds.
This lighthearted jab at Clark, a rookie sensation who has helped bring unprecedented attention to women's basketball, is followed by a highlight reel of Taurasi, a seasoned veteran widely considered one of the greatest players in WNBA history.
The rivalry between the two stars began in April, when Taurasi, in an interview, suggested that rookie players were in for a "rude awakening" when facing the established WNBA players. While her comments were directed towards the rookie class as a whole, many interpreted them as a direct jab at Clark, who dominated the NCAA Division I level.
Clark and Taurasi share some striking similarities. Both are point guards known for their exceptional 3-point shooting abilities. While Taurasi holds the WNBA's career scoring record, Clark boasts the highest scoring total at the NCAA Division I level.
The two players' first on-court meeting in June saw Clark's Indiana Fever defeat Taurasi's Mercury. In the days leading up to the game, Clark expressed her admiration for Taurasi, describing her two-decade WNBA career as "incredible" and a "dream come true" to compete against. Taurasi, meanwhile, offered a concise response to facing Clark for the first time: "Yeah, it'll be fun."
The WNBA's return after the Olympic break sees the Mercury facing the Chicago Sky on Thursday night. The Mercury enter the game with a 13-12 record, while the Sky will be looking to improve on their 10-14 mark. The Mercury and Fever will meet again for the third time this season on 16 August, offering fans another opportunity to witness the budding rivalry between these two basketball powerhouses.
