“(Caitlin Clark) Was Set Up for Failure”: Geno Auriemma Backs Diana Taurasi’s Harsh Remarks as He Blasts “Unknowledgeable” WNBA Fans

Caitlin Clark has won the Rookie of the Month award, yet Indiana Fever is struggling to find form. Clark, too, took some time to start heating up in the WNBA. And now, Geno Auriemma the UConn Huskies coach has revealed the reasoning behind Caitlin Clark’s issue in the W. According to him, it’s the fans that haven’t helped her adjust to the pros with their unrealistic expectations.

The top scorer of the NCAA and the overall #1 draft pick of the WNBA 2024 draft being “set up for failure right from the beginning“? Well, that’s what Geno Auriemma thinks. Clark leads the Fever (2-9), averaging 15.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. And per Auriemma, she stands at the third or fourth place in betting odds for the MVP at WNBA. Recently, Clark was shoved to the court during a game last weekend by the Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter, sparking an uproar that spilled beyond sports commentary.

Auriemma felt Diana Taurasi said it best “Kid was in for a rude awakening.” However, he feels the fans all jumped over her before reading the whole thing. He even said Clark was not a perfect fit for Indiana Fever. “This kid’s on the wrong team, she’s got the wrong skill set to handle the physicality of that league, and she’s a rookie,” Auriemma said. “If you’re a WNBA player you’re going to say, ‘I’m going to make a statement.‘”

However, the comment of the 70-year-old head coach was made post the Pheonix Mercury star Taurasi, which is something he used to back his claims. While giving her message to Clark and to the future WNBA Rookies ahead of the matchup of Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina, Taurasi stressed the differences in physicality that lie between the College Basketball and Pro League. She said, “Reality is coming. You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds but you are going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time. There is going to be a transition period where you are going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.”

“Targeted by society,” Auriemma further added. “Targeted by her looks, targeted by her reputation, targeted by the disrespect that (some fans have) shown to the WNBA. There’s a huge target on this kid’s back.” According to the UConn coach, it’s the fans who have over-hyped the 2024 rookie class. Yet, he feels that Clark has handled the criticisms and target on her back well.

Geno Auriemma appreciates Clark for her temperament

When asked how Clark is dealing with the immense pressure that the fans and social media have put on her, Auriemma had nothing but appreciation for the rookie. “I think she’s handling it great. I think she talks a lot of s**t and she gets a lot of s**t back. So, she deserves everything she gets, because she gives it as good as she gets. She’s just not built for the physicality of this league.” However, he feels she could get better and with her skill set, she would definitely be great over time.

Clark is currently averaging 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 35.7% from the field and 29.7% from 3-point distance. The 6-foot rookie guard already has 59 turnovers on the season and just registered a career-worst three points in a blowout loss at the New York Liberty.

Still, Clark has had her fair share of ups and downs throughout the first 11 games of her WNBA career. Recently, A’ja Wilson became the WNBA Player of the Month and then became the first player in W to achieve this status. Wilson scored more than 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 steals to continue her dominance in the league.

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