WNBA legend, Diana Taurasi, shared some hard truths to Caitlin Clark as she told the Indiana Fever star to adapt or die to the physicality deployed against her by her rivals in professional basketball.

The 2004 rookie of the year and three-time champion is well aware of all the methods used to shut down talented opponents in the top level of women’s basketball in the world, so she has sympathy to Clark‘s position, although she doesn’t think the league has to change.

It comes despite waves of criticism at overly physical approaches to the ex-Iowa Hawkeye, who holds the NCAA record for most points, with Chennedy Carter‘s notorious fragrant foul being the culmination that even attracted NBA criticism via Draymond Green.

“That’s the ultimate sign of respect,” Taurasi told Clark via GQ. When you come into the league and everyone’s eyes are on you.

“You’re getting the best defender every game, double-teamed on every pick and roll, face guarded, top lined-that’s respect from the other team. It’s like anything. It’s the next level, and it takes time.

“When you go back and look at all the greats, it takes time to get used to all of it. It’s a different type of sensory (experience). It’s a different speed. If you’re great at what you do, you will adjust and evolve. Everything will fall back into place. That’s the evolution of one’s career, really.”

When does Caitlin Clark play next?

Clark‘s averaged 16.3 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game and 6.6 assists per game as she helps guide the Indiana Fever back up the Eastern Conference standings, recently leap-frogging the Chicago Sky.

The 22-year-old has shot for 20 or more points on seven occasions and 30+ points twice, showing that she is slowly starting to get used to the level she has to be at to begin to assert her dominance over the WNBA as she did in college.

She will next get a chance to do so when the Fever take on the Seattle Storm on June 27 at 22:00 ET/19:00 PT.