"That fanbase is fuming": WNBA fans react to Dawn Staley's massive statement on Caitlin Clark

Dawn Staley has continued to heap praise on Caitlin Clark. When Staley’s South Carolina beat Clark’s Iowa in the 2024 NCAA championship, the coach thanked Clark for her impact on the game. The WNBA legend called the future Indiana Fever guard “one of the GOATS of our game.”

On Around the W on Thursday, Staley predicted Clark “will go down as probably one of the best players to ever grace the league.” The former Iowa superstar is only in her second year in the pros.

Expand Tweet

Fans promptly reacted to Dawn Staley’s comments about Caitlin Clark:

One fan said:

Another fan added:

One more fan continued:

Another fan commented:

Staley harped on the skills that made Clark a household name in college. The South Carolina tactician emphasized the point guard's scoring and said Clark's passing ability and court vision are "second to none." Clark led the WNBA in assists last season with 8.4 per game and broke the single-season assists record with 337.

Dawn Staley claimed she would have reconsidered Caitlin Clark for a 2024 Olympic spot

Many criticized Team USA for leaving Caitlin Clark off the Olympic team. While the Americans competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Dawn Staley caught the action and agreed to an interview with NBC's Mike Tirico.

When asked about Clark not making the team, Staley responded:

“Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people.”

Expand Tweet

Staley added that Clark had shown vast improvements in her game in just two months. Although the rookie struggled in the first half of her WNBA rookie season, she steadily improved to lead the Indiana Fever to the playoffs.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

Know More

Edited by Michael Macasero