The Indiana Fever's home opener against the Chicago Sky was a major game for several reasons: the team trounced their rivals 93-58, DeWanna Bonner became the WNBA's third all-time leading scorer, Caitlin Clark knocked down her first triple-double of the season (and third of her career), Aliyah Boston hit her own double-double... and there was a major dispute during the third in which Clark was hit with a flagrant foul, Boston with a tech, and the Sky's Angel Reese with a technical of her own.
As if that wasn't enough, there was also something rather magnificent on display: Caitlin Clark offered a glimpse into the athlete she is becoming, and that athlete is certainly reminiscent of the league's all-time greatest: Diana Taurasi.
Caitlin Clark showed shades of Taurasi Saturday
A lot of attention has been paid to Clark's new physicality, the result of months spent in the gym (apparently on and off the court). Clark has been open about pursuing greatness this season; she wants a championship for the Fever, and if Saturday's performance is any indication, she's taken every step she can so far to get there.
This year's Clark is a different player from last year's. Last year she was already tremendous (the phrase "record-shattering season" springs to mind), but this season she's on a different level; in a lot of ways, Saturday was a masterclass in Caitlin Clark vs. Caitlin Clark.
A breakdown of Diana Taurasi's accolades
In her time in the WNBA (and long before as a student at UConn), Diana Taurasi was known for her competitiveness, her physicality, and her toughness. She was also known for what can only be described as A LOT. If you need a reminder, here's everything Taurasi accomplished: she was named All-WNBA 14 times, is a 2-time Finals MVP, the 2009 league MVP, the 2004 Rookie of the Year, a 2011 Top 15@15, a 2016 Top 20@20, a 3-time WNBA Champion, a 6-time Olympic gold medalist, 4-time USA Basketball Athlete of the Year, 3-time Euroleague Final MVP, 11-time WNBA All-Star, 10-time All-WNBA First Team, 4-time All-WNBA Second Team, and a 6-time ESPY winner.
She's also a 20-time WNBA Player of the Week, first player in league history to score 10,000 points, is the WNBA's all-time leading scorer with 10,646 career points, is the all-time leader in made field goals, owns the WNBA record for most points in a single game without a field goal attempt (28), and is the Mercury's franchise leaders in seasons, games played, games started, minutes played, points scored, scoring average, field goals made, field goal attempts, 3-pointers, 3-point attempts, free throws made, free throw attempts, defensive rebounds, assists, steals and championships
If you need a nap after reading that paragraph, we get it.
But in all seriousness, Taurasi is a living legend for several good reasons. Her record on the court will continue to drive and inspire other WNBA players for years (even decades) to come, and it certainly looks like Caitlin Clark is one of them.