Diana Taurasi makes 'remarkable' Caitlin Clark claim after first WNBA meeting

10-time WNBA All-Star Diana Taurasi was gracious in defeat on Sunday after her first-ever game against rookie sensation Caitlin Clark .

The Fever point guard totaled 12 assists in a near triple-double performance, helping erase an early 15-point deficit and earning effusive praise from Taurasi as Indiana outlasted Phoenix 88-82.

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

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Taurasi looked set to dole out another of her trademark "Welcome to the WNBA" moments early on Sunday, combining with star center Brittney Griner to score 25 first-half points as her Mercury entered the locker room with an 11-point lead. Clark struggled with accuracy from the field all afternoon, finishing just 4-14 and 2-10 from 3-point range, but her exceptional distribution helped fuel efficient scoring performances from her fellow Fever starters.

The five-time Olympic gold medalist sparked national controversy about Clark's treatment by the WNBA's old guard after she downplayed lofty expectations for the Iowa grad's rookie season and discussed her competitive goal "to kill" rookies. Taurasi's concerns quickly materialized as Clark struggled through acute efficiency and turnover woes as the Fever limped to a 1-8 start.

Clark steadily improved throughout the season, as Taurasi noted, and enjoyed a recent seven-game stretch averaging 17.3 points per game while maintaining a scorching 67.1 percent true shooting clip. Her improved form also sparked a remarkable turnaround for the long-struggling Fever franchise, which finished the month of June 7-4 after Sunday's win. Improving to an 8-12 record on the season, the Fever are on pace for their winningest season since 2016, which Taurasi credited to Clark as well.

"More importantly, she's done a lot for the Indiana Fever, " Taurasi said. "A team that for the last couple of years is trying to get back to their glory days of Tamika Catchings and putting up banners. So obviously, what she's done for the game has been pretty incredible and (having) that momentum coming out of college, eyes on you for four years straight. I think what she's doing for that team right now is pretty impressive. When I think of her, I think of what she's done for that team."

Taurasi struggled with efficiency in her own right on Sunday during her 20th WNBA season, shooting just 5-14 from the field, but a timeless ability to earn points at the foul line saw her finish with 19 points. Griner led all scorers with an efficient 24 points, but a series of devastating Fever runs with the Mercury's star duo on the bench cost Phoenix a victory on home court.