"More worthy than Diana, Plum & Griner" - WNBA fans hail Caitlin Clark for outdueling Diana Taurasi in comeback game vs Mercury

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark outshined legendary veteran Diana Taurasi on Sunday at the Footprint Center. Clark put on a show in a highly anticipated matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever, leading her team to an improbable 88-82 comeback victory.

The energy crackled in the Footprint Center as fans buzzed for the first meeting between Taurasi, one of the WNBA's undisputed legends, and Clark, the rookie phenom who entered the league with the weight of high expectations.

Fans celebrated Clark's phenomenal performance against Taurasi but also criticized the WNBA for not selecting her for the Paris Olympics squad.

"It’s official. There’s 0 reason why Caitlin Clark should’ve been left off the Olympic roster. She’s more worthy than Diana Taurasi, Plum and Griner," said one fan.

"They chose this old lady over Caitlin Clark for the Olympics???" another fan chimed in.

"Y'all better hype up her leading the comeback as well, after being down 15," wrote a user.

"Diana Taurasi washed," said another fan.

Clark dished out 12 assists and added 15 points and nine rebounds in an efficient outing. Her sticky defense put the cherry on top.

"THIS IS WHY CC IS THE GOAT," commented one fan.

"Near triple double for my girl," said another.

"Caitlin Clark owns them and Angel Reece," wrote another fan.

Diana Taurasi applauds Caitlin Clark after hard-fought matchup

The highly-anticipated clash between Caitlin Clark and Diana Taurasi lived up to the hype, as the Indiana Fever rookie guided her side to an 88-82 win in one of the most exciting games of the season.

Taurasi had huge praise for the Fever rookie after the game. The three-time WNBA champion praised the former Iowa star for how she has demonstrated growth and learned to handle adversity.

"It's amazing. What Caitlin's been able to do in her short career so far has been nothing short of remarkable," Taurasi said.

"The one thing that I really love about her...she's put the work in. Even throughout her short WNBA career, it's been a lot of pressure, a lot of things thrown at her and she keeps showing up and she keeps getting better every single game. So her future is super bright."

The torch might not be passed yet, but the message was made clear Sunday night, Caitlin Clark is here to stay and will carry on the legacy of a bright WNBA future.