Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi hit back at "really sensitive" WNBA fans who took issue with her straightforward assessment of the learning curve Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is likely to face.

"I don't think I said anything that wasn't factually correct," the 10-time All-Star told reporters Sunday. "Like anything, greatness is gonna translate and she's proven that in every level. And I don't see it being any different in the WNBA."

Taurasi was among the personalities interviewed by ESPN's Scott Van Pelt on the heels of Iowa's victory over UConn in the 2024 Final Four. Asked during the segment about the imminent arrival of Clark and other college stars, she said that "reality is coming" for players "look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds."

Taurasi wasn't taking a direct shot at Clark or anybody else. Instead, she was making a broad point about the growing pains any rookie has. This is a league where first-round picks can be cut after just a year or two and in extreme cases not even make the team coming out of training camp.

Despite being pretty inoffensive, Taurasi's comments nonetheless rankled some fans, and the Mercury leaned into the discourse by hyping up Clark's trip to Phoenix in June:

Women's basketball is undoubtedly riding the crest of a wave that Clark helped to generate, and that means a lot of people who haven't followed the WNBA are diving headlong into the league.

Those new fans were apparently surprised to learn Taurasi and her veteran peers aren't going to roll out the red carpet for the 2024 draft class.