Caitlin Clark is one of the brightest stars in women’s basketball. That standing comes with a lot of attention, criticism, and scrutiny. At times, it also comes with a lot of praise, however. WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper didn’t hold back the latter when she appeared on All The Smoke with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
“Amazing. A beast. She’s the truth,” Cooper said when asked about Caitlin Clark. Later, she added, “She’s the complete basketball player.”
That is incredibly high praise from someone who knows the game as well as Cynthia Cooper and has found as much success.
Cynthia Cooper is a basketball legend
Cynthia Cooper’s road to playing professional basketball was not easy. When she graduated from USC in 1986, the WNBA did not exist yet. So, Cooper played overseas and for Team USA until signing with the Houston Comets at 34 years old.
Even though she entered the WNBA when she was older and not in her prime anymore, Cooper went on to win two WNBA MVP awards, four WNBA Finals MVP awards, and four championships. She played only five seasons in the WNBA, but is still one of the most successful players in the history of the game.
Cooper is not the first great women’s basketball player to recognize Caitlin Clark’s talent. Nevertheless, her comments underline how far Clark has already come so early in her career. Greatness recognizes greatness, and Cooper’s praise only further shows that Clark is on the right track to becoming an all-time great.
Caitlin Clark kicked the season off in style
After a historic rookie season that ended with an All-Star selection, a trip to the playoffs, a spot on the All-WNBA First Team, and several broken records, Caitlin Clark looks ready to have an even better sophomore season. She started the season off with a triple-double and led the Fever to a big statement victory over the Chicago Sky.
Compared to last season, the Fever have a much better team. The front office managed to add veterans DeWanna Bonner, who just moved to third on the all-time scoring list, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson during the offseason. The Fever now have pretty much everything they lacked last season: defensive-minded players and championship experience.
Nevertheless, the real key to the Fever winning at the highest level is Caitlin Clark’s and Aliyah Boston’s development. They will be the cornerstones of the Fever’s success for years to come.